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ALABAMA. 


Synopsis of the Weather. 


The daily reports of the weather, furnished by the War 
jpartment, which are to be found under our telegraphic 
ad, are both curious and valuable. The invention of the 
legraph has furnished the means of obtaining simultane- 
is information of the meteorological condition of all parts 
the country, and the facts thus accumulated have been 
rstematized into a weather code, as positive as any de^art- 
lent of physical science. The result is that the nmvemWts 
f storms are very accurately predicted, both as to bAhr direc- 
ion and rate of motion; and thus the mariner, the merchant, 
nd the husbandman are forewarned what they may expect 
wenty-four hours beforehand. The recent accurate predic- 
ions of the vicissitudes of the weather here, illustrate 1 
workings of the system .—Mobile Register , February 26, I - ' 


OALIFOENIA. 


Weather Predictions. 

On Sunday last a dispatch was received from the hear 
quarters of the Weather Signal Corps, at Washington, statir 
that the barometrical reports from California indicated th. 
\ storm might be expected on Monday. The storm ha 
already begun, and was pretty general throughout the Stat( 







being : oially severe in portions of the Sacramento Valle 
where - as accompanied by an unusual amount of tliundi 
and 1 0 i ng. This is the second time the present seasoj 
that storm predictions from Washington, where observatioii 
from all parts of the Union are received and compared, hay 
been promptly realized. Meteorology is a science yet in it 
infancy, the great multitude of facts and comparisons necesl 
sary to give it an exact character not having been all obtainec 
and worked up over a sufficient portion of the earth’s surface 
But it is making progress, and the facts to which we have 
referred indicate what valuable results it may produce for 
mankind hereafter. 

Commander Maury, late of the U. S. Havy, has, by his 
researches in the “ Physical Geography of the Sea,” con-, 
ferred an incalculable benefit upon all who do business on 
the mighty deep. He demonstrated to a mathematical accu¬ 
racy the certainty and course of ocean currents; and, despite j 
his unfortunate connection with the rebellion, his name will 
occupy £ x >vnminent place in American biography. Admiral 
Fitzroy, of England, was one of the first to make known 
that similar currents existed in the air, and under his direc¬ 
tion the Fitzroy storm signals were established at all the out- 
/ These gave warning to mariners, often twenty-four 

; in advance, that there would be danger in putting to 
and so thorough were his investigations on the matter, 
■ud so correct his deductions, that the people in the East] 

! Indies have been warned of an approaching storm three 
before it occurred, and made preparations accordingly.! 
H: ascertained that currents of air, like water in the ocean] 
e in specified directions, and it is deeply to be regretted 
i the strain upon his brain, in these researches, proved to q 
h for him, that his mind gave way, and that in a moment 
temporary aberration he took his own life, just as he was 
lining to understand the law of these storm currents, 
good work he began is, however, being carried on by 
! minds, on this Continent and in England, 
he prognostication from Washington on Sunday, and it* 











/ 


A 



verification, shows the progress already made, and in view 
of the approaching large commercial interests, which are to 
he centered on this coast, it becomes an important question 
whether storm signals should not he established more gene¬ 
rally through the State, and down the coast, giving indica¬ 
tions which may he the means of saving life and property. 
San Francisco Evening Bulletin , April , 1871. 




Meteorological Observations. 

At tne last session, Congress authorized the Secretary of 
War to “ provide for taking meteorological observations at 
military stations in the interior of the continent, and at 
other points in the States and Territories, and for giving 
notice to mariners on the Northern lakes and on the sea 
coast, by telegraph and marine signals, of the approach and 
force of storms.” 

The act went into practical operation in the month of 
November, 1870. The object of the resolution was to 
organize a complete system of storm observations. The 
system meets a present requirement of commerce; ship¬ 
owners, insurance companies and transportation compa¬ 
nies are interested therein. By means of this service ship¬ 
owners can judge of the probable time of arrival of their 
steamers, as well as of the safety of their property at sea. 
The observations indicate the approach of storms of wind 
and rain, and the variations of temperature, establish gene¬ 
rally reliable rules in regard to their character and pecu¬ 
liarity, and aid the scientific world to ascertain whether they 
are governed by any fixed law of nature. They make 
known, at the same instant, to all the people of the country 
the character and variation of the weather. Such knowl¬ 
edge assists greatly in protecting life, and every description 
of property, whether at sea or on shore, from the dangers 
of gales, and cannot fail to prove of great benefit to com- 




tnerce. Already that benefit has been realized. In the 
month of December last, a bulletin from the Meteorological 
Department announced a storm that left the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains on the previous day and was traveling eastward at 
various points on the Lakes. Vessel-owners and sailors 
were able to make provision against disaster before the 
storm arrived. I am happy to say that a signal station has 
been established at this port under the able direction of 
Sergeant Samuel P. Carusi, and that a committee has been 
appointed by this Chamber, by request of the War Depart¬ 
ment, to cooperate with him.— Daily Alta California, 


The Signal Service, established by the War Department, 
has already made some important discoveries in meteor¬ 
ology. We learn from the Washington that prognosti¬ 
cations of the weather by the Signal Service officers in that 
city are so constantly verified that the caption “ predictions ” 
would better suit them than the unpretending heading of 
“ probabilities ” usually employed. It cites, in verification 
of what it advances, that in the “ probabilities ” for May 2d, 
“ Cloudy weather, with light rains along the Atlantic coast,” 
was predicted for the following day—a condition which was 
fully realized at the time specified. It has long been thought 
that the facility which the telegraph furnished for the gene¬ 
ralization of weather observations, taken at the most widely 
separated points, would enable us to penetrate the secrets of 
the upper air, so that the traveler, the husbandman, and the 
excursionist will hereafter be relieved of all anxiety as to the 
atmospherical conditions by which he may be confronted. 
We have a branch of the Signal Corps in this city, and the 
observations made are duly reported in the Alta. We have 
not much to speculate upon in this part of the world in 
summer. We know pretty thoroughly for six months what 
is before us; but next winter we are satisfied that great and 
important discoveries will be made .—Daily Alta California, 
May 15, 1871. 



The Storm Prediction. 


The Sacramento Union of yesterday lias this to say about 
it: “ The storm that commenced a week ago was predicted 

from indications telegraphed from this coast to the Signal 
Service Officer at Washington. We were notified by des¬ 
patch that a storm of rain, accompanied by high wind, might 
be expected. The storm came according to the prediction, 
and within thirty-six hours after the warning. As in the 
case of the great land cyclone that swept the whole area of 
the Atlantic States and Mississippi Valley on the 14th of 
November, the predictions of the Signal Service Officer were 
verified to the letter. After the fury of the storm was ap¬ 
parently spent, the condition of the winds and the unparal¬ 
leled fall of the barometer indicated another storm, and the 
Signal Officer at San Francisco hazarded the prediction of 
another storm on his own account. Perhaps he had not the 
advantage of knowing the condition of the atmosphere at 
all points along the coast, and was not, therefore, well 
enough posted to be as sure as he would have been with more 
advantages. But the facts he did have presaged a storm, 
and he said so. Some little sunshine and changes in the wind 
turned popular sentiment against our local weather prognos¬ 
ticator, and some of the press indulged in harsh or uncom¬ 
plimentary language toward him. He was pronounced a 
bilk, and worthy of removal. Nevertheless, he predicted a 
storm that came as true to time as the other. The Alta 
seemed to think it was necessary to receive warning from 
Washington to be worthy of attention. All the facts that 
indicate a meteorological disturbance on this coast are 
gathered here and transmitted to Washington, and from 
these the future is foretold. The laws of storms being 
understood by meteorologists, if the reports from the various 
Signal Stations on the coast were given the Signal Officer at 
San Francisco, there is no great reason why he might not 
foretell storms from the premises as well as his superior 
officer at Washington. The use of the telegraph renders it 


8 


not essential from what point the prophecies are announced ; 
but, in case the telegraph will not work—as often happens 
in stormy periods—we see no reason why a local observer 
of meteorological phenomena might not warn the people of 
coming storms on his own account. We hope he will, in 
spite of the cries of i canard ’ from the weather-wise in their 
own conceit .”—Daily Morning Call , December 23, 1871. 


California State Board of Agriculture, 

Sacramento , December 27, 1871. 

Garrick Mallery, 

Captain and Acting Signal Officer, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir; We have lately been visited by two severe 
storms on this coast, the first of which was foretold with a 
degree of correctness, as to time and severity, from your office, 
that has astonished every one. The latter was also foretold 
with almost equal correctness, at the San Francisco station. 
These facts have called universal attention to the value and 
importance of the service, and created a desire in this vicin¬ 
ity that a station may be established at Sacramento. 

In obedience to this desire, the State Board of Agriculture, 
at a meeting held on the 26th inst., added Dr. T. M. Logan, of 
this city, to the committee heretofore named. Dr. Logan is 
one of the best meteorologists in the State, and occupies the 
office of meteorologist to our Board of Agriculture. It is 
hoped, if the facilities at the command of the service do not 
now warrant such establishment here, that Congress will at 
an early day give it the necessary means. 

I am, very respectfully, your obd’t servant, 

J. H. Hoag, 

Secretary Meteorological Committee of Cal. State Agricultural Society, 



CONINLECTICTTT 


New London, Conn., 

June 8th, 1871. 

Bvt. Capt. H. W. Howgate, 

Acting Signal Officer and Assistant. 

Dear Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
of the new pamphlet of instructions for the guidance of 
Signal Observers. 

I have also to add that, in our judgment, in view of the 
greatly increased duties to he performed by the Observer at 
this station, Sergt. Brinsmade is in pressing need of an 
assistant. I have the pleasure to add my testimony, to that 
of many others, in favor of his industry and fidelity in the 
discharge of his now arduous duties. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

(Signed:) R. S. Raymond, 

Chairman Met. Com., Bd. Trade. 


DISTRICT of COLUMBIA 


The prediction of fair weather yesterday, made by the 
Signal Corps of the army, proved correct, and demonstrates 
the wisdom of the system of giving daily a weather synopsis, 
such as we printed yesterday, and also give in another column 
to-day, We shall hereafter try to find room for these daily 
reports, especially when it is particularly desirable to know 
the probable character of the weather in advance .—Daily 
Chronicle , Feb. 21, 1871. 






10 


Storm Signals. —Congressman R. J. Haldeman, of Penn¬ 
sylvania, writes to the Secretary of War as follows: “ The 

intelligent farmers of the county are beginning to take a 
deep interest in the Meteorological Reports daily published 
by the Department, and would be glad to have them supple¬ 
mented by some effective system of storm signals. As Car¬ 
lisle Barracks are situated in the centre of one of the richest 
and most cultivated valleys of the United States, I earnestly 
urge it as a suitable place for making the necessary prelimi¬ 
nary experiments.” This refers to the plan of storm signals, 
by means of telegraph and cannon, for the benefit of agri¬ 
culture and commerce, to be tested first at military posts.— 
Daily Patriot , June 14, 1871. 


The Weather-Predictions of the Clerk Thereof. 

On Saturday morning, about two o’clock, as “ the clerk of 
the weather ” entered the Chronicle office with his usual report 
of the condition of the barometer at all the leading points 
within the broad domain of Uncle Sam, he responded to the 
usual inquiry, “How is it going to be?” by saying “ Rain.” 
The uninitiated must not suppose that allusion is meant to 
the mythical clerk so often referred to by old chroniclers. 
The one mentioned is of veritable flesh and blood, and comes 
about the time named every morning as regularly as the hand 
of the clock points to that hour. He brings with him the 
result of calculations, made in the War Department, the 
report of barometrical changes at different points, which 
have been received by telegraph, and from which are made 
up, under the head of “Probabilities,” the condition of 
weather likely to prevail in the different sections of the coun¬ 
try for the next twenty-four hours. These predictions have 
been so generally fulfilled that they have come to be regarded 
as certainties, and their publicatiou through the press has 
been found very useful, 



11 


At the time above mentioned the weather was mild and 
clear, and but little attention was paid to the prediction of 
“ the clerk of the weather.” At 7 o’clock in the morning, 
and for how long previous the writer knoweth not, a heavy 
rain was falling, which continued for some hours. This was 
a blessing in more ways than one, as it cooled the atmos¬ 
phere, refreshed and invigorated all surrounding vegetation, 
and last, though not least, gave us what our city rulers have 
neglected—clean streets. These are not blessings in disguise, 
they have been plain and palpable to the different senses, and 
all who think have been grateful for them. 

The atmosphere throughout yesterday and Saturday was 
somewhat cloudy and threatened rain, but it did not come, 
and so remained cool and pleasant, enabling all to indulge 
in out-door exercise. 

Large numbers left yesterday for rides and walks into the 
suburbs, and many went boating and fishing on the river. 
The popular steamer Lady of the Lake carried a goodly num¬ 
ber on her forty-mile trip down the river. These Sunday 
afternoon excursions are always largely patronized, as they 
afford great accommodation at a moderate cost .—Daily 
Chronicle , July 8,1871. 


Weather Telegraphy and the Press. 

The Tree of Science, as it has been well said, has its 
branches in the air, but its roots are in the earth. It is, in¬ 
deed, the glory of modern science, and its charter of respect 
and observance, that, while it fearlessly grapples with the 
most far-reaching and recondite problems of human nature, 
and of universal nature, it does so always in a practical spirit, 
and with a view to contribute something towards the ameli¬ 
oration of man’s condition, and the elevation of his place in 
the scale at once of enlightenment and of well-being. It is 
this practical humanitarian position of modern science which 



1 2 


makes its existence a guaranty of democratic progress, and 
its pursuit almost a religion. The astrology which was the 
amusement of kings, the sport of the curious, the handmaid 
of superstition, has now, in the guise of astronomy, and even 
while reaching into the remotest distances of the stellar 
spaces, and leaping off into magnificent generalizations, 
which are almost appalling in their sublimity, come to be the 
fellow of the practical arts and handicrafts, the willing ser¬ 
vant of commerce, the wise counsellor of ploughman and 
sower. That alchemy which was the vain folly of madmen 
and the delirious extravagance of enthusiasts, has grown into 
a science of chemistry, which, while seeking to do no less 
than decompose and recompose the whole material creation, 
is content to make itself practically useful in our kitchens 
and our workshops, in our factories and our fields. This it is 
which marks the difference between ancient and modern 
science; between John Kepler,exercising all his unequalled 
powers of theory and induction, in casting nativities for sel¬ 
fish Wallenstein, and Benjamin Franklin, devising conduct¬ 
ing-rods to secure the protection of the humblest dwellings; 
between Helmont, inventing arbores Diance , and Liebig, in¬ 
venting a “ food for infants.” 

The recent developments of meteorology are additional 
instances of this same spirit. Ko sooner had Redfield ascer¬ 
tained that there was a law of storms than Maury, Fitzroy, 
Reid, and many others sought to give this law a practical 
operation in the behoof of commerce and of man’s comfort. 
The recent establishment of a system of weather telegraphy 
and storm fore-casting, under the auspices of the Signal Ser¬ 
vice in this country, is but one arc in the great circfe of sim¬ 
ultaneous and connected observations all over the globe, by 
means of which meteorologists expectto wrest his secret from 
the “tyrannous and strong” storm-blast, and to convert the 
mysterious problems of tempest and of calm, of fog and 
mist, of cloud and clear, into apt servants and ready minis¬ 
ters of man and man’s improvement. The little column of 


figures and plus and minus signs, which occupies a corner in 
our papers, may not strike the careless observer very forcibly, 

“At first it seemed a little speck, 

And then it seemed a mist; 

It moved and moved, and took at last 
A certain shape, I wist! ” 

but to those who reflect upon “ the small beginnings ” in 
which the greatest things of modern culmination have origi¬ 
nated, it will seem to be a very important matter indeed. 
When Lieutenant Maury began to examine the log-books of 
sea-going vessels there were few persons who suspected he 
Would be able to map out such sailing directions as would 
shorten the voyage from New York to California thirty days. 
In the same way, this weather telegraphy, which begins by 
simply chronicling a few daily observations of barometer 
and thermometer, is assuredly destined to develop into a 
science of meteorology, which will empower the expert to 
forecast atmospheric disturbances as surely as the astronomer 
can predict eclipses. In this view of the case, this nascent 
science is the forerunner of the most important knowledge 
man can hope to achieve in the present age; that knowledge 
which will enable him not only to apply the phenomena of 
external nature to his service in commerce, but also to 
appropriate it for the uses of agriculture, for the destruction 
of disease, and for the correction and equalization of those 
very phenomena themselves. 

It is in these respects that the weather telegraphy has an 
unsuspected, but most important and intimate relation with 
the press—a relation, indeed, of the broadest and most ex¬ 
tensive reciprocity. As soon as there shall be established 
anything like a system of weather forecasting, the whole 
world will require to be provided with daily information 
upon the subject, so that the farmer may be advised about 
seed time and harvest, about ploughing and mowing, about 
marketing and staying at home, as well as the sailor about 
when to reef and when to shake out reefs. This informa¬ 
tion can only be disseminated in one way—through the 


14 


medium of the daily press. Hence, there will come a time, 
and it is not so long distant neither, when it will be as much 
a matter of course for men of every occupation to read their 
paper as to eat their breakfast. There will come a time 
when the agriculturist, instead of cocking his weather eye 
towards the horizon, and snuffing the breeze like a horse, 
will send to the post office and seek in his daily paper what 
the scientific observers say in regard to the fitness of the 
weather for his proposed industries during the day. The 
immense future of the press, under such circumstances, can¬ 
not be prefigured. But the mere statement of such a thing 
as possible makes it obligatory upon journalism in every 
form, upon the simplest principles of reciprocity, to advance 
in every way the interests and developments of meteo¬ 
rological science, and to give the freest and widest circu¬ 
lation to the facts which observers in its field think it import¬ 
ant to have disseminated .—Daily Patriot , May 4, 1871. 


Forty-first Congress, U. S. House of Representatives, 
Washington, D. C., January 23, 1871. 

Sir : I have the honor to forward the enclosed application 
from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan, in relation 
to Storm Signal Stations. If your Bureau is extending the 
Signal Stations, I would recommend that Jacob Leeps be 
appointed for a station at that point on Lake Michigan, if 
consistent with the regulations of the War Department 
I am, sir, yours truly, 

Philetus Sawyer. 

Brig. Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Signal Bureau, 

Washington, D. C. 



Manitowoc, Jan. 4 th, 1871. 


Hon. Phil. Sawyer, M. C. 

Dear Sir : Last fall I had the pleasure to meet your 
honor at Mr. Randolph’s saloon, and had a conversation 
with your honor about Storm Stations. 

I send your honor a copy of the Manitowoc Tribune , 
wherein an article of a citizen of Manitowoc is published. 
I endorsed that article, and if the members of Congress 
should deem it advisable to make more Storm Stations, and 
make Manitowoc a point, I recommend myself for that 
office. I made for twenty years meteorological observations 
at this place, and sent them for thirteen years to the Smith¬ 
sonian Institution and to the Agricultural Department; and 
your honor may inquire about my ability and my correct¬ 
ness with Hon. Horace Capron, of the Agricultural Depart¬ 
ment, and with Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution. 
If you can do something in favor of that storm institution 
and for me, your honor would oblige very much one of the 
first members of the Republicans. 

Yours truly, Jacob Leeps, 


National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, 

Washington , D. C., July 3, 1871. 

Chief Signal Officer, 

War Department. 

Sir : Our organization, consisting of farmers, takes a deep 
interest in the meteorological reports of the Department, and 
we desire not only to secure the benefits to be derived from 
the same, but to give the Department all the aid possible in 
transmitting the information in the rural districts. 

Will you please inform me what plan will be adopted for 
communicating the daily reports to farmers remote from 
telegraph stations? 



16 


We have considered the subject, but find that signals 
which might serve the purpose on prairies would have 
objections in timbered and mountainous sections. 

ISTo doubt a system has been devised; if so, and it meets 
your favor, w r e shall be pleased to be made acquainted with 
it. If, through our subordinate granges, we can be of any 
service to you, please inform me in what manner. 

Yours respectfully, 

O. Ii. Kelley, 

Secretary National Grange. 


Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Bureau, 
Washington , February 15, 1871. 

My dear General: 

I am in receipt this morning of the “ War Department 
Weather Map,” forwarded to me through your kindness. 
Please accept my thanks for the same. 

I am of the opinion that the Weather Signal Service will 
be of great benefit to the country eventuall}-, and that your 
services in establishing the system will be fully appreciated 
when it shall become more generally known. 

Very truly yours, 

(Signed,) A, Pleasanton. 

Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Service. 



17 


GEORGIA. 


The Signal Service. 

A most beautiful illustration of the value of the service 
was given last month. The tremendous storm which 
wreaked its fury on San Francisco on the 21st of February 
was closely tracked to Corinne, Utah; across the Rocky 
Mountains to Cheyenne and Omaha, and storm warnings of 
its approach were issued thirty hours in advance of its arrival 
to Chicago, a longer time to Milwaukee and Cleveland, and 
two days’ forewarning were given to Buffalo and Oswego. 
The storm which, in crossing the Rocky Mountains, had 
broken off only the base of its revolving column, ravaged 
Chicago, Milwaukee, and Cleveland, unroofing and over¬ 
turning houses; it struck Buffalo and Oswego with great 
violence in its course, and finally passed out into the Atlan¬ 
tic. Had navigation on the lakes been open, doubtless the 
forewarning had been the saving of many lives and richly 
freighted ships .—Savannah Republican , March , 18, 1871. 


The Weather. 

Yesterday opened bright, warm and spring-like, with indi¬ 
cations in the clouds of high winds. The clerk of the weather, 
who is now no myth, prognosticated high winds and rain, 
which, surely enough, came, catching many unprotected 
with umbrellas and water-proof arrangements. The storm 
soon passed over, without damage hereabouts. Just before 
the storm came on, the temperature rose several degrees and 
became unpleasantly hot. ‘The streets, which were very dusty, 
presented a spectacle of numerous whirlwinds of that impal- 

3 




pable powder, which was soon laid by the copious showers 
which followed, and in the evening the atmosphere was cool 
and pleasant .—Savannah Republican, March 4, 1871. 


Utility of the Signal Bureau. 

The violent storm which prevailed in Florida on Thurs¬ 
day last was predicted from the office of the Chief Signal 
Officer to extend northwest, with strong east winds and rain 
on the south Atlantic coast. The storm arrived at 1, p. m., 
i riday, accompanied with a very heavy rain, doing consider¬ 
able damage to property, &c. 

The Signal Service reports show that at 7.19, a. m., yes¬ 
terday, when the storm was about leaving us, it gave the 
city of Charleston a visit, and threatened Wilmington. 
Later reports show that it is leaving Charleston, and it now 
remains for the Signal Bureau to continue to trace it. The 
correct predictions of the Bureau have saved a great many 
lives and an immense amount of property. Between 7 
o clock on Friday morning last, and the same hour yesterday 
morning, rain fell to the depth of over eight inches.— Savan¬ 
nah Republican, August 20, 1871. 


The Storm. 

Yesterday was one long to be remembered in Savannah. 
It is years since our city has been visited by such a storm of 
wind and rain. The clerk of the weather at Washington 
predicted from his seat of observations, “ a severe storm is 
probably advancing north-westward, over Florida, which will 
bring ^strong easterly winds and rain to the South Atlantic 
coast,” Never was a prediction more fully verified. The 
wind was slight, accompanied by a light misty rain in the 
early part of the day, but about, noon it commenced increasing 




perceptibly and rapidly, until it reached a height that was 
actually fearful and terrific. The wind blew apparently from 
every direction, the tops of the trees were whipped about 
with a force equal almost to a tornado; they bent and whirled 
like reeds. It was not periodical putfs that would come, and 
then lull, giving one time to catch breath, but it was 
one continuous blow without intermission .—Morning News , 
August 19,1871. 


The Weather. 

The prognostications of the clerk of the weather have 
proved “ all right.” The storm signal displayed from the 
observatory yesterday told the marine not to go forth, and he 
did not. A stiff west wind prevailed all day, hurrying dense 
clouds with some velocity towards the sea. At 4.19 the ther¬ 
mometer stood at 63 degrees, and falling rains and threaten¬ 
ing weather have generally prevailed. From our marine 
reports it will be seen that the gale which struck here 
last night or early yesterday morning, prevailed along the 
Southern Atlantic coast. At this writing the wind is high, 
and hopeful indications of a cold snap are indulged in.— 
Savannah Republican , November 25, 1871. 



20 


ILLINOIS. 


The Science of Storms. 

The utility and value of the reports of the Signal Service, 
which give a forecast of the weather, are growing in public 
estimation, as they are found to be reliable for large districts 
of country, even if they partially fail in particular locali¬ 
ties. The days of weather prophets are about over, and even 
the u moon wise ” will soon find their occupation gone. A 
greater and more sagacious priesthood has arisen, which, dis¬ 
carding the “ horns ” of any luminary, make predictions on 
the rise and fall of the barometer, and have already elevated 
the profession far above the hazards of the mere guessing. 
They cast the horoscope from the changing weight of the 
atmosphere, instead of trusting to the imaginary influence of 
the planets, and teach men the days when they may safely 
sow or reap, without danger from storms, instead of wasting 
time over the fatalities of moonbeams at particular seasons. 
Many people witnessing the certainties of the predictions of 
these latter-day prophets, are already taking advantage of 
them, and the movement will assuredly spread, for it is a 
demonstrated problem which admits of no doubt. 

Among all the improvements of modern times probably 
none will work more important results than these weather 
signals. When the recording instruments report a coming 
storm, it will not answer to trust a clear, blue sky, or the 
absence of clouds from the horizon. The sailor and the 
landsman may alike credit the forerunning report, even if 
it comes from hundreds of miles away. Science will yet 
pilot mankind through the atmospheric waves, as easily as 
the ship afloat on the trackless ocean.— Chicaqo Post May 5 
1871. * ’ 



21 


Storm Signals and Weather Reports. 

Our readers have doubtless observed a great change made 
recently in the form of the weather reports, which have now 
been published daily in these columns for about five months 
past. They have become less ponderous and more practical. 
The observations made at some thirty different and widely 
separated points in the United States, by the United States 
Signal Corps, “ for the benefit of American commerce,” 
were at first given in lengthy tabular form. Now we have 
a short table, and a brief summary of inferences drawn at 
Washington. This summary is based on a survey of the 
meteorological conditions obtaining all over the United States, 
and generally contains a correct sketch of the character of 
the weather in the immediate future. 

It is scarcely possible to glance at these published reports, 
each day, without becoming convinced of two things. The 
first is, that meteorology is, at last, entitled to take rank 
among the physical sciences, notwithstanding the popular 
impression that it is nothing more than a formidable array 
of data, without a single valuable conclusion. The second 
is, that even in its present embryo state, a knowledge of the 
science of meteorology may be made of practical benefit so 
great as to be almost incalculable. 

The systematic comparison of the atmospheric conditions 
obtaining at several widely sundered points on this continent, 
has only been made during about three months past; but a 
kindred system of storm signals in Europe has been in ope¬ 
ration for some years, and has proven of great value, even in 
England, where the peculiar situation gives a much more 
changeable and less easily traced set of atmospheric condi¬ 
tions than those met with in North America. On this conti¬ 
nent enough of progress has already been made in the study 
of these corelations to enable us to judge, with almost abso¬ 
lute certainty, of the future movements of those atmospheric 
disturbances classed under the general head of “ storms.” 
It is easy to understand that such knowledge may be made 


22 

available in averting many of tlie disastrous effects of these 
convulsions, as we can prepare against their advent, both on 
land and water. 

These observations furnish irrefragible proof that the mys¬ 
terious movements in the serial envelope of our globe, which 
have hitherto baffled the sagacity of the wisest, are really 
referable to a law which can he patiently reasoned out, just 
as are the tides of the ocean, though the inciting cause of the 
one may be much more intricate than those of the other phe¬ 
nomenon. There is, however, this difference, that, while we 
have long ago found out the primary causes of the ocean 
tide, we can scarcely hope to do more at present than to 
detect the fact, force, and direction of an atmospheric storm, 
and make the lightning carry the news in advance of it to 
those places which lie in the path of the on-moving wave. 
It is singular, too, that, whereas the tides of the ocean, and 
the grand serial tides which we call the “ trade winds,” travel 
uniformly from east to west, except as the course is modified 
by other conditions, the currents of disturbance or clerange- 
mentffrom the normal flow pass almost uniformly in the oppo¬ 
site direction—from west to east. In the case of atmos¬ 
pheric disturbance this general eastward flow is often deflected 
by a mountain range, or modified by the character of the 
area over which it travels, just as the water-tide is turned 
aside or delayed by the interposition of islands, or the shores 
of continents. 

If the earth were unattended by a moon, and had no move¬ 
ment of rotation on her axis, the two oceans of water and 
air would be nearly quiescent. The continual change of 
position gives rise to disturbance of equilibrium, and the 
force of attraction of gravitation continually tends to restore 
the equilibrium all over the earth’s surface. The barometer 
measures the weight of the atmosphere at any particular 
place, and the upward and downward movements of the mer¬ 
cury in its tube measures as well as indicates the changes in 
atmospheric pressure. If, therefore, we find that the barom¬ 
eter shows a greater pressure of air at one place than at 


another a few miles distant, we are justified in expecting that 
there will he a movement of air (wind) from the place where 
the air is heaviest to the place where it is lighter. And 
experience proves that this is the case; while the amount of 
difference between the two premises may naturally be 
expected to show the force or velocity with which the air 
will move to recover an equilibrium of weight all over the 
earth’s surface. These movements produce storms of wind, 
which are generally accompanied by rain of the temperatures 
if the meeting air masses are unequal, as that causes a pre¬ 
cipitation of moisture by a reduction of temperature. It is 
found that the average rate of movement is seldom more 
than forty miles per hour, or one thousand miles per day. 
Inasmuch as the electric flash is practically instantaneous, a 
storm moving upon us from a distance of one thousand miles 
could be signalled to us a whole day in advance of its arrival. 
If there be an atmospheric disturbance on the Missouri river, 
and a comparison of barometers shows a region of less pres¬ 
sure to the eastward, the vessel-master on the shore of Lake 
Michigan may have the advantage of twelve hours in which 
to make all taut and snug in preparation for the anticipated 
outburst of elemental fury. 

Most of these atmospheric waves which pass over this par¬ 
allel of latitude appear to have their proximate origin on the 
eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. They probably come 
from the tropics, and are deflected eastward across the Mis¬ 
sissippi Valley, just as the Gulf Stream is turned back by 
the shores of Central America, and sent eastward across the 
Atlantic. And just as the Gulf Stream is a comparatively 
narrow body of water flowing through a broad ocean, so we 
find that these atmospheric movements are almost always 
confined to narrow belts, the length of which may stretch 
over a large part of the earth’s circumference, crossing meri¬ 
dians. The area of the United States, east of the Rocky 
Mountains, appears to be divided into three grand storm 
courses, the actual line of the northern one being almost 
coincident with a curve passing from Cheyenne, through 


Omaha and Chicago, thence along the general trend of the 
lake system and down the valley of the St. Lawrence. Hence 
the safety of our lake craft is comparatively independent of 
the disturbances occurring in the two more southern meteor¬ 
ological divisions; and a system of storm telegraphing, which 
shall cover the points named, will seldom fail to indicate the 
conditions under which storms may he expected to occur on 
the great chain of inland lakes. 

This is the reason why the newspapers of the northern 
section are no longer requested to publish the barometirc and 
thermometric reading of the more southern districts; and a 
considerable saving is effected in the cost of telegraphing and 
printing, at the same time that opportunity is afforded for 
publishing the more important deductions made in Washing¬ 
ton from a survey of the whole field. 

Thus far the observations made have been of little practi¬ 
cal service, except as testing the value of the system of storm 
signals. But the season of navigation is now open, and w T e 
may reasonably hope that the experience of the winter months 
will enable those who make an understanding comparison of 
these tables to furnish prognostications of the greater changes 
in the weather, which will be of untold value to our shipping 
interests, enabling them to avoid a large percentage of the 
loss of life and property which has hitherto been an annual 
concomitant of our lake commerce. It is not too much to 
hope for, that we shall not only add to the actual wealth of 
the community by saving these enormous yearly losses, but 
that the cost of lake transportation will be considerably 
reduced by a lessening of the rates of insurance commensu¬ 
rate with the diminution of risk. 

We may add that the system of storm signals would be of 
almost equal value to the farmer as to the mariner, could the 
information be placed at his service. The warning of a few 
hours would often enable him to avoid the loss of a year’s 
labor in the field. 

Every year adds to our stock of that true knowledge wdiich 
is power. Man may never be able to rise to that position 


where he can have cloud or sunshine at his bidding; but, if 
he can attain to the knowledge of those conditions, so as to 
he able to take advantage of the very waywardness of the 
elements, he will then, and then only, he able to justly lay 
claim to the oft-vaunted title of “ Lord of Creation.”— Chi¬ 
cago Tribune , April 7, 1871. 


Storm Prognostics. 

# 

The Meteorological Bureau at Washington, established 
nearly a year ago, to report the movements of the atmos¬ 
phere in the United States, for the benefit of commerce, 
have just issued a very valuable pamphlet entitled “ Sug¬ 
gestions as to the Practical Uses of Meteorological Reports 
and Weather Maps.” The probable weather of the near 
future is indicated from the central office at Washington, 
daily; hut it is evident that many atmospheric disturbances 
occur, which are but feebly felt at any of the forty-seven 
stations at which these observations are taken by the gov¬ 
ernment officials. By the aid of these condensed rules the 
work of observing may he profitably undertaken at any 
place, and the weather probabilities discovered therefor, by 
comparing the atmospheric conditions at that place with 
those telegraphed from the government observing stations. 

The laws of the movement of storms are not yet fully 
understood, but enough is known concerning them to 
enable us to judge with tolerable accuracy of the weather 
one or more days in advance, if we can only know the pres¬ 
ent state of the atmosphere over a considerable area. And 
the rules necessary to this important knowledge are far 
from being few or intricate, though, of course, they cannot 
be memorized in a moment. 

We do not attempt to present an abstract of the pamphlet, 
for the double reason that it is so admirably written that a 
material condensation is impossible, and that a copy may 

4 



be obtained from General Myer, the Chief Signal Officer 
of the United States Army (Washington), free of cost, by 
any one wishing to use it. 

There are two things needed to make the weather obser¬ 
vations, now taken daily, really useful to the people. They 
are : 

1. To establish signal stations on the lake shore at suitable 
intervals, to warn the officers of vessels on the lakes of 
storms raging in port. Storms often occur near the shores 
of large bodies of water, when the atmosphere in mid-water 
is quite calm. 

2. To take daily observations of the weather at stations 
scattered all over the thickly settled portions of the North¬ 
west, at least one in every county in Illinois and adjacent 
States, so that comparisons could be made and conclusions 
drawn with reference to the “ local disturbances” so frequent 
in this region, of which the general system takes but little 
or no account. 

It cannot be expected that either of these will be under¬ 
taken by the general government. The first-named provi¬ 
sion must be made, if at all, by the parties immediately 
interested in the safety of lake navigation—by the vessel- 
owners, or the marine insurance companies, or both. The 
second is of greatest interest to the farming portion of the 
community, and might be attended to, with advantage, by 
our county agricultural societies. Both would be found to 
pay large dividends of profit, in the prevention of loss of 
life and property on the water, and of damage to crops in 
the fields .—Chicago Tribune , August 8, 1871. 


About the Weather. 

The great atmospheric wave which came from the wes¬ 
tern mountains, and traversed to the seaboard early in the 
week, has subsided, and been replaced by the cold, dry 



atmosphere of the northwest plains. A clear sky and invig¬ 
orating air is the uniform attendant of all winds from that 
direction. There is an open stretch of two thousand miles 
without a lake of any considerable size, and hence these 
winds are always dry and parching. A blow for even a few 
hours dries up the muddiest streets, and often immerses the 
city in clouds of dust—a result rarely following from any 
other point of the compass. 

The effect of the trade-winds upon the interior of the con¬ 
tinent, has not yet been sufficiently studied. The winters 
on the Pacific coast are generally almost continuous rains, 
while the summers are dry and parched, unless locally, and 
among the mountains. The winds, which seem to blow 
inland winters, are reversed in the summer, at least at the 
surface. What efiect that may have at the time of changing 
upon the climate of the great plains at such seasons, has 
not yet been fully investigated. The mountain barrier is 
lowest at the north, and a general theory has prevailed that 
the air currents from about Behring’s Straits, following the 
trend of ranges which turn eastward, give a general direc¬ 
tion to the surface winds in nearly all the central northwest 
States. This current meeting the warm and moist one 
from the southwest, at some point about Denver, may neu¬ 
tralize the direction of both, and give a western storm to 
all the country lying eastward. And when that passes the 
cold and heavier atmosphere would usurp dominion, until 
the increasing warmth gave a new direction to the winds, 
which, indeed, are never at rest. When telegraph lines are 
stretched along the North Pacific railroad, with branches to 
Lake Winnipeg, British Columbia and Alaska, and the 
signal stations are attached to the present system, we shall 
in time arrive at a correct solution of these questions, as a 
similar arrangement will no doubt attend the completion of 
the Southern Pacific road, and lines penetrate far into Mexico. 
When the results from every side are compared the solu¬ 
tion will be easy.— Chicago Evening Post , April 15, 1871. 


The Late Cyclone. 


THE RECENT STORM A METEOROLOGICAL WONDER—THE GOOD 
WORK OF THE SIGNAL SERVICE BUREAU. 

The weather reports of the Signal Office, as given to the 
press on Tuesday, reveal a meteorological wonder. The 
whole country east of the Mississippi was then under a 
cyclone, from Lake Superior to Galveston, and from Savan¬ 
nah to Montreal. Heretofore it has been supposed that a 
cyclonical storm of such dimensions was impossible. The 
centre of the rotary storm was in Ohio, the winds blowing 
in an almost perfect circle around the centre, in a direction 
against the hands of a w T atch—the invariable direction in 
which the West Indian and all other tropical cyclones gyrate. 
This tremendous revolving gale w T as predicted and described 
in all its quadrants fully twenty-four hours before it reached 
the lower lakes, and thirty-six hours before it fell upon Hew 
England. It is a grand stroke of science to he able thus to 
signal the path and gyration of such an immense gale, whose 
winds, especially on our lakes and lee shores, are so destructive 
to the unsuspecting mariner. The great utility of the Signal 
Service w T as strikingly illustrated in connection with the 
recent storm. The day before the storm, under direction of 
the bureau, cautionary signals were displayed at eighteen of 
the twenty stations along the line of all the lakes, the whole 
Atlantic coast from Florida to Maine, and on the coast of 
the Gulf of Mexico. At every port the warning signal w r as 
given from five to fifteen hours in advance of the storm. 
There could be no better test of the discipline of the Signal 
Service than this—the storm reaching as it did all the coasts 
of the United States except the Pacific. Doubtless hundreds 
of vessels were saved from disaster by being warned of the 
impending peril hours in advance of its appearance.— Chicago 
Tribune , November 22, 1871. 



29 


Quincy as a Signal Service Station. 

Why shouldn’t Quincy be made one of the stations of the 
United States Signal Corps? It is a far more important 
point than several others that are already on the list, includ¬ 
ing Cairo, Davenport, Keokuk, Knoxville, (Tenn.,) etc., and 
possesses all the facilities for making the observations re¬ 
quired. We have scientific men here who have been accus¬ 
tomed to take note of the height and changes of the barom¬ 
eter, the thermometrical changes, the state of the weather, 
etc., and the Bridge Company have the necessary means for 
measuring the force of the wind, probably far more accurately 
than is now done at a majority of the stations elsewhere. 
Besides, Quincy is on a parallel, (about 40 degrees,) on which 
there appears to be no station on the east side of Pittsburg, 
while there is none this side of St. Louis, on the north. 
Being the most important city on the river north of St. 
Louis, and the centre of a rich agricultural region, extending 
into three States, it would seem to be better entitled to be 
made a Signal Service station than any other place this side 
of St. Paul, which has a certain importance as the head of 
navigation on the Mississippi, and the interests of commerce, 
agriculture and navigation call for it. Why should not our 
merchants, steamboat owners, &c., make a move in this 
direction ?—Daily Whig , Quincy , August 23, 1871. 


We are greatly obliged to Gen. W. M. Dunn for one of 
the War Department weather maps. It is the first one we 
have seen. It exhibits at a glance the state of the weather 
through the whole country on the 6th of December. It is a 
complete panorama of the observations of the barometer, 
thermometer, hygrometer, winds, rain, snow, &c., at all Sig¬ 
nal Stations, for the day. 

The Government is doing a noble work for science, com¬ 
merce and agriculture. They are demonstrating the fact 



30 


that the fickle winds, the fleeting clouds and the changing 
skies, are all under the dominion of law. The prediction of 
dangerous storms lias already saved to the commerce of the 
country many times the cost of these observations.— Green¬ 
ville Advocate , December 22, 1871. 

\ 


Signal Service Bureau. 

Editor Quincy Whig : I have noticed your allusion to the 
Signal Service Bureau, and the importance of the system of 
meteorological observations established by that department 
of the Government. Ko thinking person can peruse the 
daily weather reports telegraphed from the central office at 
Washington without the natural reflection which follows 
upon the varied interests affected, and upon the almost in¬ 
numerable ways in which the people are benefitted. 

Our shipping interests, not only upon the lakes, but along 
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, realize already the value of 
the precautionary signal system which has been effectually 
put in operation for the prevention of marine disasters. 

Agricultural districts are taking heed of the predictions 
which now foretell the weather with surprising exactness in 
the more densely settled portions of the country, and the 
time of harvest and gathering of crops is, to a great extent, 
regulated thereby. 

Wherever property interests, or outdoor enterprises of any 
character can be injuriously affected by storms or rain, the 
value of fore-knowledge is readily perceived. 

While we might amplify upon the different business inter¬ 
ests which are thus benefitted, we must not lose sight of an¬ 
other result of the Signal Bureau, and that is the immense 
contribution it makes to the convenience and comfort of 
hundreds of thousands of our people. 

We Americans are usually so absorbed in utilitarian ideas, 
so disposed to recognize only the consequence of what bene- 



fits our pockets and adds to our bank account, that we over¬ 
look the value of information which will enable us to avoid 
little discomforts and annoyances, and make the routine of 
our lives run more smoothly and pleasantly on. 

It is a fact that thousands of persons now govern their 
movements to a considerable extent by the weather reports 
in the morning papers. 

Ladies preparing to leave their suburban homes for a 
shopping visit to the metropolis—persons contemplating a 
day’s visit to a country relative or friend, excursion parties, 
and those “ on pleasure bent ” among the woodland groves, 
all look to see whether the bulletin of General Myer foretells 
clouds and rain, or gives a hope of clear and pleasant weather, 
and it is in the avoidance of the petty discomforts (sometimes 
serious from their after results upon the health) which follow 
a rainy or stormy day, when one has made no preparation, 
that one of the greatest benefits of the Weather Bureau is 
realized. 

A little sickness escaped, a small annoyance avoided, a 
happy day made certain—these to the individual seem but 
small results, but in the aggregate, when we reflect that 
hundreds of thousands have such experience, millions of 
dollars could not balance the advantages obtained. 

The unscientific visitor can hardly appreciate, much less 
describe, the variety of ingenious little instruments and the 
novel mechanism which are employed to register the atmos¬ 
pheric conditions of heat and moisture, the wind currents, 
and all the weather phenomena which are subjects of careful 
attention in the national observatory under General Myer’s 
supervision. To this gentleman is due the greatest credit 
for the ability he has manifested in the department under 
his charge, and it is to be hoped that Congress will recog¬ 
nize the value of his services by a proper appropriation for 
the required extension of stations throughout the country. 
When it is known that seventy per cent, of the weather pre¬ 
dictions of the past year have been verified by experience, 
and when it is known that less than one-fourth the number 


of stations or points of observation have been established 
that are essential to complete any satisfactory information, 
we must infer that the measures adopted have been instigated 
by a sagacious and thoroughly competent mind. 

When one hundred and fifty stations are in working order 
in the United States there will be established a systematic 
observation so thorough, and embracing so vast a territory, 
that it would seem almost to preclude the possibility of any 
serious inland or coast disasters from storms or hurricanes.— 
Daily Whig , Quincy. R. 


On and after the first of January next, the Signal Service 
will report the depth of water at all the prominent points on 
the Mississippi river and other navigable streams, in the same 
manner that weather reports are forwarded. The pilots of 
the steamers will be regularly informed of the stages of water 
upon the bars, both above and below them, and thus be able 
to act upon certain information, instead of vague and often 
interested reports. This arrangement cannot fail to prove 
an immense convenience, as well as great personal benefit, 
to the owners of boats, as well as to passengers. The Signal 
Service has long since demonstrated its utility in foreshad¬ 
owing storms and giving warning to lake and ocean shipping, 
and its application in a different form to the river marine 
grows naturally from its old relations. Secretary Belknap is 
entitled to great credit for inaugurating the system. The 
time is not far distant when it will be greatly extended, and 
the harvesting of crops be about as much governed by its 
warning as the moving of vessels .—Chicago Post. 



83 


Cairo, III., March 17, 1871. 

Hon. John M. Crebs, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : The enclosed document embodies the offi¬ 
cial action of the city council of the city of Cairo upon the 
representations made by you in your letter to Col. S. Stooks 
Taylor, of the 18th instant. 

Hoping that you will succeed in your efforts, as expressed 
in your letter to Col. Taylor, and that such efforts will not 
want their due recognition by our citizens, 

I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
(Signed,) John M. Lansden, 

Mayor of the City of Cairo. 


Council Chamber of the City Council, 

Cairo, III., March 17, 1871. 

At a special meeting of the City Council of the city of 
Cairo, Ills., convened at their chambers, on Friday, the 17th 
day of March, A. D., 1871, the following preamble and reso¬ 
lutions were unanimously adopted, viz : 

“ Whereas , From its central location, at the junction of 
two of the largest rivers in the great Valley of the Missis¬ 
sippi, being a radiating point of a commerce requiring more 
than 5,000 steamboat arrivals in a year, these reaching fre¬ 
quently as many as thirty in a day; and of railroad and 
telegraphic communications with every point of the compass, 
it is highly proper, in the judgment of this body, that a 
Signal Station for meteorological observations should be 
established here; therefore, he it 

“ Resolved , That his honor, the Mayor, be, and he is hereby 
requested to transmit to the honorable Representative in 
Congress from this district, a copy of this preamble and 

5 


u 


resolution, and to request him to bring to the notice of the 
honorable Secretary of War the importance of this point as 
one of the stations alluded to.” 

A true extract from the minutes. 

(Signed,) John M. Lansden, 

Mayor. 

Michael J. Howley, 

City Clerk. 


Washington , D. C., March 21, 1871. 

Chief Signal Officer, 

Sir: I have the honor to respectfully forward for your 
consideration, a resolution of the city government of Cairo, 
Illinois, which I hope may meet the favorable consideration 
of the Department, and that the Signal Station may be estab¬ 
lished as prayed for. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient 
servant, 

(Signed,) John M. Crebs. 


| seal. | 

(Signed,) 


General Myer, 


Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, 
Secretary’s Office, 

Chicago , May 27th, 1871. 

Bvt. Brig. Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., Washington, D, C. 

Sir : Your favor of the 20th instant is at hand, and in be¬ 
half of this Board, and those interested in our lake inter¬ 
ests, I beg to thank you for the efforts you are constantly, 
and so successfully, making to secure prompt and reliable 



reports of weather indications. These reports are daily 
growing in public favor, and the new arrangement, which 
so far works very satisfactorily, gives to the matter a largely 
increased interest. Our committee (now reorganized as per 
the within card) will be most happy to cooperate with you 
in any way it may be able to do so, and it is ever at your 
service and command. 

At present I think of hut one point to which I would call 
your attention. Our people are exceedingly anxious for re¬ 
ports from the northern part of Lake Huron, say from one 
or two points on the west shore and from Mackinac. I 
think you wrote me that efforts were being made to secure 
such at an early day, and we trust you may be as happily 
successful in this as in other matters connected with this 
Service. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient 
servant, 

C. Randolph, 

Chairman Committee. 


Board of Trade, Chicago, Dec . 16, 1871. 

To Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : Sergeant Mackintosh requests that this Com¬ 
mittee communicate to you as to the probable necessity ot 
continuing the cautionary signals during the winter, &c. I 
would say in behalf of the Committee, that navigation on 
this Lake is about practically closed for the season; a few ves¬ 
sels may yet be out, and, probably, if the weather is at all 
favorable for it, vessels will make short trips during most of 
the winter. After consultation with gentlemen engaged in 
navigation, I have to report that it is not considered essential 
to continue the cautionary signals during the winter months, 



36 


or say, from now until early in April next. We trust, how¬ 
ever, that it is not in contemplation to suspend the daily 
reports of the condition of the weather at the various points 
of observation. These are constantly growing in favor, and 
their absence would be greatly missed. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient 
servant, 

Chas. Randolph, 

Chairman Meteorological Committee. 


Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, 
Secretary’s Office, 

Chicago , February 8, 1871. , 

Bvt. Brig. Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : In behalf of the committee appointed by this 
board to confer and cooperate with yourself in matters re¬ 
lating to the subject of meteorological observations for the 
benefit of commerce, I would take the liberty of saying, that 
in general, the reports received at this point are very satis¬ 
factory, and are rapidly growing in favor. The public are 
beginning to study and appreciate their usefulness, and we 
doubt not that on the resumption of lake navigation they 
will be watched closely by those engaged and interested in 
our lake business. 

The management of the station here is, we think, in very 
competent hands. Sergeant Mackintosh is, so far as we can 
judge, faithful, painstaking and competent. I would sug¬ 
gest, however, that an assistant recently assigned to him is 
somewhat objectionable in that, while ordinarily he seems 
industrious, and attentive to his duties, he is inclined to the 
use of stimulents, that at times wholly unfit him for busi¬ 
ness; a change in this regard would, I think, be for the in¬ 
terest of the service. 



We are hoping that at an early day observations may be 
extended, and some proper system of signals be established 
at points on the lakes, particularly on Lakes Michigan, 
Superior and Huron, that will indicate to vessels passing the 
probabilities of weather from day to day. If such signals 
could be located at Mackinac they would be of vast benefit. 
At present we think they might be established at Muskegon, 
Escanaba, Marquette, and perhaps other points, now in con¬ 
nection with the telegraph, with great and immediately bene¬ 
ficial results, and at moderate expense. 

I have the honor to he, in behalf of the committee, your 
very obedient servant, 

Chas. Randolph, 

Chairman of Committee. 


IOWA. 


Weather Reports. 

The new weather office here, and its appointments, were 
described in this paper on Sunday morning. Pure science 
has reason to congratulate herself on this advance, that is, 
on the system of meteorological signals, of which this is a 
part, as will be understood by those who have closely fol¬ 
lowed the progress, and the ‘efforts of science to grasp the 
laws and insualities that govern the changes and features of 
the weather. 

Some may admire the idea of having reports of the 
weather throughout the country three times a day, who will 
try to penetrate the mysteries of the figures and statements, 
and then will sink into a pleased state of indefinite admira¬ 
tion, while others may look for practical purposes. But for 




38 


our uses we must wait for applications to grow up. If we 
only knew how to suitably use them, no doubt the reports 
could he made to take the place of the changes of the moon 
and the “ Yeder Prognostications” of the almanacs, in indi¬ 
cations for various domestic and other affairs and futurities. 

The principal intention is to collect reports of the state of 
the weather throughout the portion of the continent over 
which storms come in reaching the Atlantic seaboard, for 
the benefft of commerce. Storms north of Florida come 
generally from a southwest course, so that their approach 
may he known and watched often one or two days in advance 
of their strildng the seaboard, which may he of the greatest 
importance to shipping by the use of proper signals. 

The War Department, under which the system is placed, 
and the officers in charge are pleased to extend every facility 
to the public in reaching the earliest results of the observa¬ 
tions throughout the country; and they deserve a generous 
public appreciation. 

The observations are taken “ at the same moment of time ” 
at all the stations. That is, they are not made at—say—6, p. 
m., at each station, hut at the moment when it is 6, p. m., 
at Washington. The question of measuring time may seem 
very simple, and it may seem that, though the standards by 
which everything else is measured may vary from one coun¬ 
try to another, there would he hut one standard of time 
everywhere; the day of 24 hours, of 60 minutes, &c., about 
which no other particulars would he needed. But this is 
not all .—Daily Gate City , July 27, 1871. 


Davenport, June 2,1871. 


Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army, 

Washington, D. C. 


Dear Sir: I herewith inclose you printed slip of pro- 



89 


ceedings of a meeting of our Board of Trade, in response to 
your circular of May 15th. 

Allow me to say that the members feel warmly interested 
in the success of this important undertaking, and will afford 
all the aid in their power toward its advancement. 

We are also under obligations to you for having stationed 
here as courteous and attentive a Signal Officer as Mr. Rich¬ 
mond has thus far proven to he. 

Awaiting your further communications, I remain yours 
very truly, 

(Signed:) Jas. M. Balzell, 

Secretary Davenport Board of Trade. 


Keokuk, Iowa, December 27, 1871. 

Hon. W. W. Belknap, 

Secretary of War, 

Washington, B. C. 

Hear Sir: It would be a gratification to some of our cit¬ 
izens, if the weather or meteorological reports, at Keokuk, 
would give us some one or two points on the Atlantic coast, 
north of Hew York city, say Boston, or Portland, Me. As 
we now get it, Hew York is the only point north of Phila¬ 
delphia. 

I write you to ask for Boston report, if but one point can 
he added to the list. Of course there maybe some good rea¬ 
son we know not of, for the omission. 

Wishing you happy “Hew Year,” 

I am yours truly, 

Chas. P. Birge. 



40 


i:nhdi ana. 


The Weather Business—Indianapolis Board of 
Trade. 

At the regular meeting of the Board yesterday afternoon, 
the following preamble and resolution were offered by I). M. 
Berry, of the Meteorological Committee: 

Whereas , The United States Signal Service Department, 
has placed in the rooms of this Exchange a Weather Chart, 
showing the various meteorological stations throughout the 
country, and are now daily exhibiting upon the same the 
vicissitudes of the weather in a conspicuous and intelligible 
manner for the benefit of the public; therefore, 

Resolved , That the thanks of the Board of Trade of In¬ 
dianapolis, be presented to the Signal Service Department, 
through Sergeant Wappenhaus, the accomplished officer in 
charge of the station in this city, for this valuable favor. 

John C. Wright, 

W. R. UOFSINGER, 

E. T. Cox, 

S. T. Bowen, 

D. M. Berry, * 

Committee. 


Daily Sentinel , Jane 9, 1871. 



41 


kajs^s^lS. 


Storm Signals. 

As the officer in charge of Signal Station at this place will 
very soon be in receipt of his flags and lanterns, we reprint 
the following article from the Hew York Herald describing 
the signals as seen in Hew York: 

“ The office of Storm Signals, Ho. 120 Broadway, went yes¬ 
terday into operation. It is a branch office ot the Signal 
Service Bureau at Washington, and its business is to an¬ 
nounce the approach of storms. The day signal of approach¬ 
ing rough weather will he from the flag stall on the lofty 
summit of the building, a red flag with a black square in the 
centre, and the night signal a red lamp. With the aid of a 
glass these signals can he seen from a point in the north as 
far as Manhattanville, and on the south from Sandy Hook. 
From the wonderful accuracy of the weather 4 probabili¬ 
ties ’ daily reported from the Signal Service Bureau, we are 
quite sure that these storm signals will he of very great ser¬ 
vice to those 4 who go down to the sea in ships, in warning 
them of coming storms, so as to enable the mariner to avoid 
them or trim ship to meet them. Indeed, we think that, on 
the land and water, with these storm signals in full opera¬ 
tion from point to point, they will be the saving of millions 
of property which otherwise might he lost. And this is an¬ 
other of the incalculable advantages of modern civilization, 
resulting from the electric telegraph .”—Leavenworth Bulle-. 
tin , October 28, 1871. 


\ 



Weather Bulletins. 


We recently mentioned the great usefulness and growing 
popularity of the system of weather bulletins and meteorolo¬ 
gical maps of the United States Signal Service Bureau; ob¬ 
tained by the aid of telegraphy from every part of the 
country. Leavenworth is one, a most important one, of the 
United States Signal stations, and has an able and accom¬ 
plished observer. At this point, however, we receive the 
report of only a small portion of the United States Signal 
stations, and the daily weather maps reach us too late * to 
interest us practically. What we desire and what we 
deserve, as the largest and most important military post in 
the West, is a full report from all the stations in the coun¬ 
try. We are certain that Gen. Myer, who has charge of 
the bureau, knowing that the value of his inestimable work 
is appreciated in this locality, will be very ready to accord 
to our wishes. A petition to that effect is now being cir¬ 
culated, and we are confident that it will, when transmitted, 
contain the names of a large number of our most prominent 
and intelligent citizens .—Leavenworth Commercial , January 
7, 1872. 


LOUISIANA. 


The telegraph sent from Washington, near 12 P. M., 
Thursday, a summary of weather reports, adding this pre¬ 
diction : 

“ It is probable that partially cloudy and pleasant weather 
will be experienced on Friday from Missouri to Virginia 
and northward. It is probable that rain and high winds 
will prevail in the Gulf, west of Florida, during the night,” 





Such rains and high winds began here early Friday 
morning. Twenty-Four hours after the dispatch above 
quoted was sent, another prediction was sent, as follows: 

“It is probable that the high winds in the Gulf will 
advance with rain to the coast of Louisiana.” 

The prediction is now a disastrous reality, the wind and 
rain amounting to a storm. The southeasterly wind has 
been so violent as to blow the water of our lakes, already 
flooded by the Bonnet Carre crevasse, inland in the rear of 
the city, to the depth of six feet, causing enormous damage 
along the lake shore, and especially at Milneburg. The 
fulfillment of these prophetic warnings shows the growing 
value and importance of these barometrical reports .—New 
Orleans Picayune , June 4, 1871. 


A Signal Station. 

We have been shown a letter, addressed to the Board of 
Trade of our city, but there being no such organization, it 
was dropped by our Post Master in the box of Col. R. II. 
Linsday. The letter is written by Brigadier General Albert 
J. Myer, Chief Signal Officer of the army, and conveys the 
gratifying intelligence that Shreveport has been designated 
as a station of observation and report. The cordial cooper¬ 
ation of the boards of trade, and other commercial asso¬ 
ciations is solicited. 

The advantage resulting from meteorological observa¬ 
tions, not only to commerce but to agriculture, have been 
fully demonstrated, and we take pleasure in commending to 
the favorable consideration of business men, the proposal on 
the part of Congress to establish a station in our city. 

It is a reproach to our city that we have no chamber of 
commerce or board of trade, and steps should be taken by 
our merchants to form an organization of that character. 

Every encouragement should be given to this proposal, 



44 


for it will bring our city prominently before the commercial 
world, and give a vast amount of valuable information 
respecting the atmospheric influences which affect mankind 
and also vegetation. 

As the commercial influence of Shreveport has been 
recognized by the general government, in its selection as 
one of the signal stations, let us prove that we are worthy 
of such preference. To attain the high position to which 
we are entitled, we must secure a concentration of all public 
offices, and patronage for this section of country, and thus 
add to our wealth, population and influence in commercial 
circles.— Shreveport, La., August, 1871. 


New Meteorological Bureau. 

No doubt many of our citizens have been much interested 
in the weather reports published by direction of the War 
Department, which have appeared each morning of late in 
our telegraphic columns as coming from Washington. Some, 
no doubt, have scouted at the idea of any one foreshadowing 
the weather in all the principal sections of the country from 
any such place as Washington, D. C. But to the astonish¬ 
ment of many, accurate predictions have been made, so per¬ 
fectly is the science of meteorology understood. The heavy 
gale and rain stcfrm that swept over this city on Wednesday 
evening last, was foreshadowed at 4 P. M., on the afternoon 
of the same day, and telegraphed to all the principal cities 
in the country, as follows : “ Probabilities.—A severe storm 

is indicated for to-night and to-morrow for the Gulf, high 
winds for Thursday on the lakes, and threatening weather 
on the South Atlantic, with fresh winds.” The means by 
which this information is obtained, is through tri-daily reports 
made to the Signal Service Office of the War Department, 
which has now been in operation for nearly a year, under the 
charge and direction of Gen. Myer, assisted by an efficient 


\ 



45 


staff of officers, and a corps of seventy-five or eighty ser¬ 
geant observers, a majority of whom were either promoted 
from the regular army or enlisted, because of their especial 
fitness for the duties required of them, which, in most places, 
especially at those where only one person was assigned for 
duty, was of the most arduous character, requiring frequently 
twenty hours attention out of twenty-four. But recently the 
force at nearly all stations has been doubled, by the assign¬ 
ment of a private soldier to duty as assistant observer.— N. 
0. Picayune , 1871. 


New Orleans, June 17, 1871. 

Sir : Your letter, addressed to the President, was laid 
before the Chamber of Commerce and a Committee ap¬ 
pointed, to cooperate with the Chief Signal Officer, Division 
Telegrams and Reports for the benefit of Commerce. 

As protection to person and property is the great end of 
government, Congress has wisely provided that the approach 
of storms may be announced and the danger cared for in 
advance. 

As the work progresses, its design becomes more generally 
understood, and its importance more extensively appreciated. 

The daily synopsis of the weather is eagerly noted in the 
telegraphic reports, and the probabilities, are watched with 
interest from their frequent and marked confirmation. 

The difficulties of opening a station have been overcome, 
and a location obtained favorable to scientific accuracy. 

We are glad that an agreement has again been made with 
the telegraph companies, and that the material is obtained 
from other stations to make tabulated reports, according to 
instructions of the Signal Officers. These reports together 
with the synopsis, are posted daily in bulletin form, in five 
of the most public attainable places: they are likewise fur¬ 
nished to the Cotton Exchange daily. 



46 


When established on the lirm basis of experience, storm 
signals will be hoisted at the several stations, to give notice 
of approaching storms, &c., &c. 

Improvements will doubtless be made in this as in all 
other scientific labors* It is hoped that self-registering in¬ 
struments will soon take the place of those now used, so as 
to insure the greatest accuracy of measurement. 

It would add much to the interest and value of these 
reports if they embraced the changes of temperature, &c., 
throughout the cotton districts of Georgia, Alabama, Missis¬ 
sippi, &c., &c. 

We have much pleasure in testifying to the zeal and dili¬ 
gence of Observer Pullen, in all that relates to his duties 
here, and make no doubt that his services will be duly ap¬ 
preciated in the proper quarter. 

We are, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servants, 
(Signed,) G. L. Laughland, 

Wm. C. Black, 

of Committee. 

To Albert J. Myer, 

Bvt. Brig. Gen. & Chief Signal Officer of the Army, 
Washington, D. C. 


Office Shreveport Board of Trade, 
September 16, 1871. 


General Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, IT. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 


Dear Sir : I am instructed by a resolution adopted by 
the Board of Trade, on the 12th instant, to acknowledge the 
receipt of your communications, dated July 31st, and Au¬ 
gust 1st. 

The Board of Trade fully appreciate the work you have 
undertaken, and believe that commerce and science will 



47 


be greatly aided thereby, and as an evidence of their appre¬ 
ciation of a station in this city, will give every aid and en¬ 
couragement to the observing sergeant stationed here. 

I herewith enclose you copy of resolutions adopted by the 
Board for your acceptance. 

I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 

It. H. Lindsay, 

First Vice President, Acting President pro tem. 


Shreveport, La., September 14, 1871. 
General Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : At a meeting of the members of the Shreve¬ 
port Board of Trade, held on the 18th instant, the following 
preamble and resolutions were adopted unanimously : 

Whereas , Under the authority of the Secretary of War, 
and in pursuance of an act of Congress, the Chief Signal 
Officer of the Array has taken steps to establish a system of 
meteorological stations, for the purpose of the observations 
and reports of storms, for the benefit of commerce and 
science, at Shreveport. 

Whereas, In the opinion of this Board, the duties are of 
material importance to the commerce of the whole country; 
therefore, be it 

Resolved ,That a permanent committee of three be appointed 
by the chair, to confer with General Albert J. Myer, Chief 
Signal Officer, U. S. Army, from time to time, and to ex¬ 
tend to him such assistance as may be in the power of this 
Board. 

Resolved, That we elect General Albert J. Myer an honor¬ 
ary member of the Shreveport Board of Trade. 


48 


The chair appointed Messrs. Geo. Williamson, Chairman, 
It. D. Sale and Geo. A. Pike, Committee. 

A true copy of the minutes. 

I remain your obedient servant, 

Thomas Phillips, 

Secretary pro tem. 




Weather Forecasts. 

The weather is more talked about, probably, than any other 
topic. It is seldom forgotten, even in the briefest interviews, 
and the forecasts, put in hap-hazard, in almanacs, are not by 
any means wholly neglected. People like to chat and proph¬ 
esy about the weather, mark its vicissitudes, and growl about 
them when they don’t come to suit. But with all the atten¬ 
tion given to the subject generally, only a few classes really 
appreciate its importance in a business point of view, among 
whom are those who go to sea in ships, and those who make 
hay and need sunshine for the purpose. 

But could it be announced with tolerable accuracy each 
morning what is to be the general character of the weather 
the ensuing twenty-four hours, who would not regard it as a 
great desideratum, both for convenience and in a business 
point of view? There can be no question that it would be 
such; and it is to supply this, that the Signal Corps of the 
War Department are now reporting, at stated hours, the con¬ 
dition of the weather in different parts of the country, with 
forecasts of what it will be on the morrow. The synopsis 
of the weather thus furnished, which we publish every morn¬ 
ing, is particularly important in the interests of commerce, 





49 


and it is for that purpose chiefly that it is provided. The fore¬ 
casts, based upon the reports from the different stations, have 
unfortunately not been received in season to publish, except 
a part of the time. For the general reader, these are the 
most important, and we trust measures will be taken to fur¬ 
nish them in season for publication, which must be as early 
as half-past three in the morning. If received later than 
that we cannot use it, and we trust the Chief of this Service 
will see that it is furnished in time. 

The weather reports are simply an experiment at present; 
but we cannot doubt that they will be continued and become 
a permanent institution. With reference simply to the safety 
of life and property on the water, the advantages will far 
outweigh the cost; but this will be only a small part of their 
value. Science will be promoted by them, and the public 
instructed in the significance and laws of atmospheric changes. 
We trust that on no account will they be suffered to be dis¬ 
continued. Professor T. B. Maury, the distinguished meteor¬ 
ologist, has furnished to Scribner’s Monthly , two interesting 
articles upon the science of forecasting storms by the aid of 
weather telegrams, such as our Government has recently 
commenced; and from his second article we take the follow¬ 
ing 1 

“In the northern parts of the United States, according to 
Professor Espy, the wind in great storms generally sets in 
from the north of east, and terminates from the north of west; 
while in the southern parts it generally sets in from the 
south of east, and terminates from the south ot west. 
With these facts before him, the observer is ready to under¬ 
stand his instruments, and no meteorologist should depend 
on his instruments alone. Great changes of weather or 
storms are usually shown by falls of barometer exceeding 
half an inch, and by differences of temperature exceeding 
fifteen degrees. A tenth of an inch in an hour is a fall pre¬ 
saging a heavy storm or rain The more rapidly such changes 
occur, the more probable a violent atmospheric commotion. 
To understand the fluctuation of the barometer, we have 

7 


50 


only to compare it with its normal height for the time, and 
so with the thermometer. This may be done generally by 
examining an iso-barometric chart, which gives you the lines 
along which the barometer ranges the same number of inches 
in clear weather, and the isothermal chart, showing the line 
of equal temperature. Barometers show the beatings—the 
pulsations of the atmosphere—and their diagrams express to 
practised observers, to use the words of Admiral Fitzroy, 
‘what the ‘indicatorcard ’ of a steam cylinder shows to a 
skillful engineer.’ ” 

M. Marie Davy, Chief of the Meteorological Division in 
the Imperial Observatory, Paris, who has for some years 
made this a special study, states that the “ perturbations of 
the magnetic needle are inseparably joined with one or more 
of the three following phenomena: 1. General disturbances 

of the telegraphic lines—due to wide spread auroras, which 
mark general movements of the atmosphere in high latitudes 
and over the Atlantic. 2. Disturbing currents of a more 
local character, occurring over the telegraph lines some time 
before the storm appears to which they owe their origin, thus 
strengthening the distance and time at which the approach 
of the storm may be perceived. 3. Disturbing currents, still 
more restricted, accompanying the electric changes when the 
storm itself is passing.” Blood red streamers of aurora 
crossing the sky, and meteoric and electrical exhibitions pre¬ 
ceded the gale in which the Royal Charter went down. If 
we could have more magnetic and meteorological observato¬ 
ries, as Buchan suggests, the magnetic and electric states of 
the atmosphere and auroras might be made our most valua¬ 
ble prognostics of storms. 

It has also been discovered that the presence of large quan¬ 
tities of ozone (which can easily be ascertained by ozone test- 
gapers) foreshadows an impending atmospheric storm. 

These unbidden monitions, together with many others— 
as the sun setting red, a remarkably red color of the clouds; 
the sign almost infallible, at Mauritius, of the brick-dust 
haze in the horizon; ft thick, muddy atmosphere, but extra. 


51 


ordinarily clear on mountains; frequent shiftings of breezes 
from all points, thick fog hying fast to the south, a bright 
halo round the moon, stars very brilliant and unusually 
twinkling at low altitudes, noises in caverns and wells like a 
storm, moisture on walls and pavements, sea-birds coming to 
land, water-fowl hying about; the swell of ocean rolling in, 
though the hurricane may be 600 miles distant; turtles boat¬ 
ing in the calm, apparently in a state of stupor; the sea pecu¬ 
liarly clear at great depths, tides irregular; branches of trees 
not bent forward as by a stream, but constantly whirled 
about; water rising in the wells and ponds; disturbances of 
currents on the telegraphic wires—are some of the oft observed 
presages of the “ thing of evil .”—Eastern Argus , March 3, 
1871. 


The U. S. Signal Department has placed in the Merchants’ 
Exchange a weather chart showing the meteorological stations 
recently established throughout the country. The telegraphic 
report of observations taken synchronously at these stations 
at 8 A. M., (Portland time,) will be placed upon this map as 
soon as received; the weather at each station being indicated 
by appropriate symbols and hgures readily understood, and 
by which the location and progress of storms can be observed 
at a glance. 

Masters of vessels, especially, are invited to avail them¬ 
selves of the facilities offered at the Merchants’ Exchange 
and at the Signal Office for obtaining information that can¬ 
not fail to be of great interest and beneht to navigation. 
Free admission to the room of the Merchants’ Exchange is 
allowed to all ship masters in active service. 

C. II. Farley, 

M. K Rich, 

Jas. S. Bedlow, 

Meteorological Committee Bd. of Trade. 

Eastern Argus , Portland , May 31, 1871. 



52 


MAIRYLAISri). 


Weather Prognostics. 

A little hand-book of meteorology, published by the 
United States Signal Service Bureau, contains more useful 
and practicable information on the subject of which it treats 
than any other work of the kind that we have ever seen. 
No technical terms are used, and the elements of the science 
are brought down to the comprehension of the unlearned. 
The object of this publication is to instruct people of average 
intelligence in the use of the weather report tables, daily 
published in the American , and to teach them how to make 
out weather prognostics for themselves from the data fur¬ 
nished by the reports. It may be here remarked, that the 
prognostics furnished by the Bureau are sometimes at fault, 
but it is because new conditions enter into the problem, of 
which the Department, from the nature of the case, can 
have no notice. If it were possible to have stations for ob¬ 
servation all over the continent, as well as on the north 
Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, then the weather 
prophets might make out their bulletins with almost absolute 
certainty that their predictions would be fulfilled. Even 
with the present limited facilities for observation, their 
“ prognostics ” are greatly relied on, and they generally 
prove to be correct. 

The barometer is of all others the instrument most relied 
on in meteorological observations. Nearly all the changes 
in the weather are due to the inequality in the pressure of 
the atmosphere at different points, and the constant struggle, 
as it were, that is going on in the serial regions to maintain 
an equilibrium. A brief outline may be given of the man- 



ner in which meteorological changes are predicted. Every¬ 
body knows that the height of the mercury in the tube of 
the barometer indicates the pressure of the atmosphere at 
that particular point. The pressure varies according to the 
temperature, moisture, depth and motion of the atmosphere. 
The average height of the barometer on the Atlantic coast 
is thirty inches; that is, the pressure of the atmosphere sus¬ 
tains a column of mercury thirty inches high. On the 
Western plains it rises to 30.2 inches, and diminishes as we 
go to the North Pole. Take the report for any given day, 
and trace a line on the map, from point to point, at which 
the barometer stands at less than thirty inches. These lines 
will be found to be all on the same side of the average line 
of thirty inches, and to be approximately parallel to each 
other. Then another series of lines may be traced between 
the points at which the pressure is more than thirty inches. 
In this way a belt of country is enclosed between the two 
series of lines, which is bounded on one side by the limit of 
low pressure, and on the other by the limit of high pressure. 
The whole surface of the continent appears to be covered 
with alternate belts of high and low pressure. But some¬ 
times the area of low pressure is comparatively small, and, 
instead of being a belt, is a square, enclosed on all sides by 
the limits of high pressure. When this occurs, that particu¬ 
lar region may well apprehend a tornado. 

In accordance with the laws of mechanics, the air must 
always be pushing from the regions of higher to those of 
lower pressure, and this movement we call the wind. In any 
area of high pressure the winds blow away from the centre, 
and are deflected towards the right as they move forward. 
In any area of low pressure the winds blow towards the 
centre. Of course there are conditions that may somewhat 
modify the general law, such as the forces of inertia and 
friction, and the presence of mountains or hills that obstruct 
the current of the winds. In addition to the winds occa¬ 
sioned by the causes mentioned, there are great currents 
spreading over continents, and encircling the earth, which 


54 


are created by the rotation of the earth. But it is .the 
local winds that are indicated in the Bureau reports. 
When there are no well defined central areas towards which, 
or from which the winds proceed, they still obey the general 
law, and blow from the regions of high pressure to the re¬ 
gions of low pressure. When the lines of high and low 
pressure approach each other there will be heavy gales over 
the regions between, which die away as the equilibrium is 
restored, and the lines recede from each other. 

The temperature, as indicated by the thermometer, enters 
largely into the weather problem, but no special mention of 
it need be made in this synopsis. There are areas of rising 
and falling temperature, and it is by closely observing the 
variations in these areas that the coming of storms is fore¬ 
told. 

The moisture in the air is another important element in 
the calculations. Watery vapor dissolves in air very much 
as salt dissolves in water, and as the salt is deposited in crys¬ 
tals whenever the water is fully saturated, so it is with the 
atmospheric vapor. One cubic foot of air, having a tem¬ 
perature of fifty degrees, and under a uniform pressure of 
thirty inches, will hold 4.28 grains of water when fully sat¬ 
urated. If, then, the temperature, or the pressure of the air 
is lowered, there must result a deposition of a portion of the 
water, either in the form of fog, dew, rain, frost or snow. 
On the other hand, if the temperature or the pressure be in¬ 
creased, the air becomes capable of holding a larger quantity 
of vapor, and ceases to be fully saturated. 

By carefully noting all these conditions, the weather 
prophet can tell with considerable certainty when it is going 
to rain, and when the winds will lift away the clouds. 

By a series of observations, meteorologists have discovered 
that storms are controlled by certain laws, and that the areas 
of stormy weather and clear weather, alternate with each 
other with remarkable regularity. The lines of high and 
low pressure, and the areas of high and low temperature, are 
in continual motion, generally to the eastward, except for 


the regions south of thirty degrees of latitude, where the 
movement is westward in summer .—Baltimore American , 
August 7, 1871. 


Until recently the law T s that govern the course of storms 
have been, at best, but imperfectly understood, and, even at 
this time, there is yet a good deal to learn respecting them. 
Much, however, has been accomplished within the last thirty 
years by American and English investigators, and we are 
now about to realize important practical results from studies 
that, at first, seemed likely to bear but little useful fruit. 
The perplexities of meteorologists grew out of the extent of 
the field of observation, and the utter impossibility of draw¬ 
ing, from indefinitely multiplied records, any system of rules 
that would be uniformly applicable. When, therefore, Ad¬ 
miral Fitzroy abandoned the idea of simply telegraphing the 
state of the weather from day to day, and undertook to 
prognosticate, from each day’s meteorological observations, 
the approach of storms, at what time they would probably 
reach the British coast, and what course they might be 
expected to take; and when he further put in practice, at 
the most prominent points along the British coast, a simple 
system of storm-warning signals, the immense importance 
of this new step in meteorology soon began to manifest 
itself. At the outset, it was quite natural that some diffi¬ 
culty should be encountered, and that the storm-warnings 
should sometimes turn out wrong. Deflections in the course 
of the storm would occasionally occur, and there were other 
causes, affecting the correctness of the deductions drawn 
from the meteorological phenomena, which were not then 
as carefully studied as they have been since. The improve¬ 
ment in the trustworthiness of the forecasts of the weather 
proceeded, however, quite rapidly. Of the storm-warnings 
given on the British coast in 1865—the first year they were 



56 


introduced—only fifty per cent, proved to be right. The sec¬ 
ond year seventy-five per cent, were right; whilst “ out of 
one hundred warnings sent to the north coast of France, 
during the winter of 1864-5, seventy-one were realized; and 
during the second winter seventy-six. Out of one hundred 
storms that occurred, eighty-nine were signalled during the 
first winter, and ninety-four during the second winter. This 
result,” says Buchan, as quoted by Maury, “ is remarkable, 
as showing that of the storms which occurred in the north 
of France during these two winters, warning of the approach 
of eleven out of twelve was sent,” Shipowners and marine 
officers on the British coast have since testified to the great 
utility and importance of these storm-warnings, and the 
opinion is expressed that they have already “ been the means 
of saving lives and property to an immense extent.” 

The organization of a special branch of the United States 
Signal Service, for obtaining weather telegrams and des¬ 
patching storm-warnings, promises to be of even greater 
utility than the similar service abroad. Although only just 
at the beginning of its labors, the extensive arrangements 
which have been made by the Chief Signal Officer for 
obtaining meteorological reports from every part of the 
country are worthy of all praise. The meteorological table, 
which has been published daily of late, in the chief cities of 
the Union, indicates how thoroughly the new system has 
been digested and the valuable facts which it is capable of 
recording. But this daily record of observations, important 
as it is, not only to those “ who go down to the sea in ships,” 
but also to that large class of the population engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, had one serious defect—it was too 
abstruse to be properly comprehended by any but scientific 
men. There are very few persons in the country who are 
acquainted with the science of meteorology, and fewer still 
who are sufficiently conversant with the subject to forecast 
the track of any given storm, because it is only of late years 
that the general course of great storms has been conclusively 
ascertained. To obviate this difficulty, and as a means of 


making this branch of the Signal Service not only eminently 
useful, hut in the highest degree popular, a change has been 
made within the past day or two in the form of the reports. 

This change consists in announcing daily the rise and fall 
of the barometer and thermometer at various points widely 
separated from each other, and by a careful digest of the 
meteorological observations which have been made through, 
out the day, forecasting the probable character of the weather, 
and the approach or cessation of storms. This is exactly 
what was wanted. By glancing each morning at the weather 
report, as published in the daily journals, the mariner finds 
it stated, in language that he cannot misunderstand, at what 
point a storm may be raging, or when and where a storm 
may be expected, or what the prospects may be of fair 
weather. The farmer, also, who is so situated as to obtain 
a city newspaper within a few hours after it has been issued, 
is equally forewarned, and during the season of active field 
operations will thus be enabled to guard against the worst 
effects of an approaching storm. For those farmers residing 
in the remoter interior districts, it is in contemplation to 
adopt a system of storm-waiming signals, by means of the 
firing of cannon. But whether this latter suggestion is carried 
out or not, it is already evident that through the means of 
this new branch of the Government Signal Service and a 
well arranged system of weather telegrams and storm warn¬ 
ings, much property may be protected against injury or still 
more serious devastation, many shipwrecks averted, and 
many valuable lives saved .—Baltimore Gazette y January 27, 
1871. 


The Weather Reports. 

Of the reports furnished by the Government Signal Ser¬ 
vice, sixty-nine per cent, of the probabilities have been 
yerified by the result, and twenty-one per cent, in addition 
8 



partially verified. The haste required to get these reports 
promptly before the public has made the percentage of verifi¬ 
cation less than it would have been with more leisure. Re¬ 
ports taken at all stations at 11.85 P. M., are telegraphed to 
Washington, collated, and the deductions made are fur¬ 
nished the Press at 1 A. M. 

To extend the system of synchronous reports, an observer 
thoroughly instructed and equipped was sent with Captain 
Hall, commanding the North Polar Expedition. To get 
observations of the higher serial currents, a station has been 
established and maintained on the summit of Mount Wash¬ 
ington, New Hampshire. Reports are desired from Pem¬ 
bina, Sitka and the Sandwich Islands. It is proposed to ex¬ 
tend the synchronal system by seeking the assistance of 
such ship captains as are willing to make observations and 
record them upon forms furnished by the Signal Office. An 
international system of observations is suggested. Such 
system is at once needed, in order to obtain reports from 
the West Indies, the Windward Islands, and the coast of 
South America .—Baltimore American , November 21, 1871. 


To Masters of Vessels. 

The U. S. Signal Department has placed in the Mer¬ 
chants’ Exchange a weather chart, showing the meteorologi¬ 
cal stations recently established throughout the country. 
The telegraphic report of observations taken synchronously 
at these stations at 7.87, A. M., (Baltimore time,) will be 
placed upon this map as soon as received; the weather at 
each station being indicated by appropriate symbols and 
figures readily understood, and by which the location and 
progress of storms can be observed at a glance. 

Masters of vessels, especially, are invited to avail them¬ 
selves of the facilities offered at the Merchants’ Exchange 
and at the Signal Office, for obtaining information that 



59 


cannot fail to be of great interest and benefit to navigation. 
Free admission to the rooms of the Merchants’ Exchange is 
allowed to all shipmasters in active service. 

II. L. Whitridge, 

Eobt. E. Kirkland, 

B. M. Hodges, Jr., 

Wm. H. Brune, 

J. Hall Pleasants, 

Meteorological Committee, Bd. of Trade. 

Baltimore Price Current and Weekly Journal of Commerce , June 

10, 1871. 


The Change in the Weather. 

The “clerk of the weather,” that is the Signal Service ob¬ 
server, in his abstract of the midnight report Wednesday 
night, when it was damp and mild and cloud} 7 , delivered the 
following judgment; “probable change to cold weather, 
and snow within thirty-six hours ; if not, then clear weather 
will set in from northwest.” Before eleven o’clock last 
night the latter clause of the prediction was fully realized, 
clear weather having set in from the northwest, with a 
change to cold.— Baltimore Sun , Febrimry 8, 1871. 



60 


M A.SS A.CHCXJ SETTS. 


The United States Signal Service is certainly doing, ac¬ 
cording to the dictionary definition of the descriptive epithet, 
eminent, remarkable, extraordinary, distinguished service. 
Established without any flourish, it has been quietly at its 
work, winning attention by its usefulness, until now it excites 
daily remark as it daily makes trustworthy reports and gives 
“ probabilities ” regarded as counsels not to be neglected. 
Owing to the instantaneous help of the telegraph, whereby 
observations can be made over a vast territory and data col¬ 
lected from many points growing constantly more numerous, 
there is a sure promise that we are to have a science of the 
Weather which will interpret phenomena so long considered 
beyond the reach of human ken. The “Bureau/’ in its ever 
augmenting facilities, is rapidly becoming ubiquitous; and it 
seems clear that there will be no limits to the enlargement 
of the operations it has inaugurated, until the entire globe 
is compassed by its inquiring and centralizing agencies, and 
that the whole heavens will be watched by them. 

People are so used to wonders that they hardly marvel as 
they should at this fact and all it predicts of the future, though 
almost hourly taking advantage of the knowledge commu¬ 
nicated by the new Department for the benefit of commerce, 
and for the benefit of many other kinds of business as well. 
The questions now earnestly asked by such as must take the 
weather into account in their various operations, as to the 
intelligence from Washington, and the eagerness with which 
the reports are read in the papers every morning and even¬ 
ing, show how generally and quickly the community is rec¬ 
ognizing the peculiar conquest over time and space that seeks 



61 


to put an end to troublesome and often dangerous uncertain¬ 
ties, and to furnish, in so quiet and modest a way, intima¬ 
tions that are far removed from all guess-work and gaining 
constantly in exactness. The warning given of the recent 
great gale all along the coast, several hours before it began, 
is almost enough of itself to justify the establishment of the 
“ Bureau,” showing as it does, in one striking instance, its 
efficiency. 

The addition of the “ cautionary signals ” has given to this 
institution of the War Department, fresh importance that 
cannot fail of being acknowledged in every seaport where 
they are displayed. The pamphlet explaining these, and 
adding instructions as to other matters connected with me¬ 
teorological investigations and the use of the barometer and 
thermometer, is one that will be read with interest, and is to 
be commended for the simplicity and clearness of its sugges¬ 
tions .—Evening Transcript , Boston , Nov. 21, 1871. 


Storm Signals. 

To the Editors of the Boston Daily Advertiser : 

In order to make storm signals useful to vessels passing 
through our sounds and along our coasts within sight of 
prominent points, we want something more than mere news¬ 
paper records. It is all very well for the merchant who has 
a ship about to go to sea, or the captain who commands 
her, to read the morning paper and find out how the 
weather is at Chicago or St. Louis, Milwaukee or at Wash¬ 
ington Observatory. The seamen on the coast cannot very 
well put in at Holmes’s Hole, Hyannis or Newport to read 
the newspapers (unless, indeed, they have wives or sweet¬ 
hearts at those ports). They would like to know something 
about coming storms. What we would suggest is that 
there be placed at prominent points, such as Little Gull 





<32 


Light, Cuttyhunk, Habska Light, West Chop, or Holmes’s 
Hole, a signal station for the purpose of warning vessels as 
to approaching storms. 

If it could be done without too much expense, it would 
he well to have telegraphic submerged communication with 
light ships where large numbers of vessels pass, such as 
Cross Hip or Shovelful, in the route over the shoals between 
the Vineyard Sound and Cape Cod. But this might he too 
expensive, and could not very easily be done on account of 
the swinging of the ship. Still it could he done by watch¬ 
ing the opportunity for shifting the wire at the turn of the 
tide. 

The object in having information thus communicated is 
in order that vessels may speak with the light ship in cases 
where they happen to be without means of comprehending 
mere signals.— Boston Daily Advertiser , Febuary 4, 1871. 


The general accuracy of the weather predictions telegraphed 
from Washington, has been often remarked, and there is rea¬ 
son to expect that they will gradually grow more and more 
trustworthy, as the observers gain greater experience. For 
the convenience of those who may wish to obtain early infor¬ 
mation on this subject, the “ probabilities ” for this section 
will hereafter be bulletined in front of The Republican office, 
semi-daily, as soon as received. The predictions, as most 
people know, are based on observations made by meteorologi¬ 
cal observers in different quarters of the country, several 
times a day, and despatches are sent from Washington to the 
press, under date of 10.30 A. M., and 7.30 P. M., which are 
received in Springfield as soon as 2.30 and 11.30 P. M., at 
which hours they will he bulletined. Should the Service be 
hastened, as it certainly ought to be, the public will have the 
advantage of the earlier transmission, and the despatches 
will be in a corresponding degree, more valuable.— The 
Springfield Republican , July 13, 1871. 


I 



08 


National Board of Trade, 

Boston, January 2, 1872. 

Brig. Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Washington, D. C. 

Sir : I beg to annex copy of a resolution adopted at the 
recent meeting of this Board, in the city of St. Louis, and 
I shall be glad if your Bureau shall decide to establish a 
Weather Station at Quincy, Illinois, in accordance with the 
expressed wish of the Board. 

I am your obedient servant, 

Hamilton A. Hill, 

Secretary and Treasurer. 


Resolved, That the Executive Council be instructed to ask 
the War Department to cause a Signal Station to be erected 
at Quincy, the second city in the State of Illinois, in order 
that reports of the weather may be regularly made from that 
port, for the benefit of the country generally. 


Harvard College, 
Cambridge, Mass., August 16, 1S71. 

Sir : I beg to acknowledge, with many thanks, the receipt 
of a copy of “ Suggestions, &c. x ” and of one weather map 
of the date of August 7, and to express, at the same time, 
my high appreciation of the excellent work done by the 
“ Division of Telegrams and Reports for the benefit of Com¬ 
merce,” and my hope that you will have every facility and 
encouragement to extend and perfect this important Depart¬ 
ment of the public service. 

Yours truly, 

Charles W. Eliot, 

President. 

Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, H. S. A. 


i 



64 


Extract from Annual Report of Boston Board of 
Trade, 1871. 

****** 

It appears to us of the highest importance that Boards of 
Trade, Commercial Associations, and Insurance Companies 
through the country, should cordially cooperate with the 
Government in its intelligent and liberal measures. Your 
Committee cannot too much commend the thoughtfulness 
of Congress in the establishment of the Weather Signal 
Service, called the “Bureau of Telegrams and Reports 
for the benefit of Commerce,” and the fidelity of the Chief 
Signal Officer and his able assistants, in carrying out every 
provision for the success of the work. The Committee, hav¬ 
ing been in frequent communication with the observer sta¬ 
tioned at this post, takes pleasure in testifying to his consci¬ 
entious performance of the arduous duties of his office by 
night and by day. Each succeeding year will undoubtedly 
suggest new improvements in the methods of taking obser¬ 
vations, and each annual report of your Committee will 
record new victories won in the field of this new but most 
important and valuable science of meteorology. 

Thomas Garfield, 
Robt. S. Perkins, 

M. D. Ross, 

John Cummins, 

Eugene H. Sampson. 

Boston, January 2, 1871. 


Extract from Annual Report of Boston Board of 
Trade, 1872. 

The eighteenth annual meeting of the Board of Trade 
was held yesterday afternoon, Vice-President Joseph S. 
Ropes in the chair. 

****** 

Thomas Gaffield, chairman of the committee appointed to 



65 


examine and report on the storm signal office, presented a 
very interesting paper on the workings of the system, the 
substance of which is here subjoined: 

Referring to our last annual report for an account of the 
establishment of the “ Division of Telegrams and Reports 
for the benefit of Commerce,” your committee takes pleas¬ 
ure in recording at.this time the great progress which has 
been accomplished in this most interesting and important 
branch of the national service. 

The signal office in Boston was removed in January to a 
more convenient location, at Ho. 103 Court street, near the 
corner of Hanover street. From the top of this elevated 
building the storm signals, flying from a flag-staff, can be 
plainly observed by all vessels coming into the harbor. In 
order that they may be known equally well to those lying at 
our wharves, it has been suggested by several gentlemen 
connected with navigation and marine insurance, that these 
signals should be repeated at the old State House, the Cus¬ 
tom House, at some elevated point in South or East Boston, 
or from one of the forts in the harbor. Some of our expe¬ 
rienced sea captains have also suggested the great impor¬ 
tance of a station on the coast of Cape Cod. 

Your Committee intend to give these matters due consid¬ 
eration, and they have no doubt that upon proper represen¬ 
tation of the subject, the Government will do all in its ppwer 
to extend the usefulness of the service by the establishment 
of new stations and the repetition of the storm signals at 
Government military posts, or at other proper places along 
our coast. The faithful observer sergeant, Mr. Daboll, whose 
ill health occasioned his absence on leave in the summer, and 
his subsequent removal to the station at Jacksonville, Florida, 
has been succeeded by observer sergeant Henry E. Cole, 
whose industry, skill and accuracy in the preparation of his 
daily reports have merited the warm commendations of your 
Committee. 

Observations are now made of the barometer, thermome¬ 
ter, hygrometer, the direction and force of the wind, the 
9 


66 


condition of the clouds and sky at 7.35 A. M., 4.35 P. M., 
and 11.35 P. M., true time, and transmitted by telegraph to 
Washington. At 7 A. M., 2 P. M., and 9 P. M., local time, 
similar observations are daily made for record in the local 
offices. Once a week a copy of these records is sent by mail 
to Washington. The stations are now supplied with self¬ 
registering anemometers, whose movements by an electrical 
attachment are recorded in the office of the observer. 

At the beginning of the year the Government contem¬ 
plated the establishment of forty-five observing stations, re¬ 
ports from sixteen of which were daily received at Boston. 
Sixty-two have now been established, and reports from fifty- 
seven are daily received here. Reports are also transmitted 
from Toronto and Montreal, in Canada. Meteorological 
maps are prepared daily after the receipt of the morning re¬ 
ports, on which are recorded, at each station, the height of 
the barometer and thermometer, the force and direction of 
the wind and the state of the weather, and copies of these, 
with the weather bulletins, are placed at the Merchants’ 
Reading Room, Public Library, Union Telegraph office, Re¬ 
vere and American houses, and in a few other prominent 
places. 

At Washington, at the office of Gen. Myer, the Chief 
Signal Officer of the Army, so perfect are the arrangements, 
and sp skilled are all the observers, that in an incredible short 
time after the reception of the reports from all portions of 
the country, the necessary deductions are made, based upon 
the laws governing the winds and storms; and prognostica¬ 
tions of the weather for the succeeding twenty-four hours, 
are sent throughout the land. These are daily published in 
the morning and evening journals, with the other details of 
the meteorological reports from the stations, and have exci¬ 
ted the surprise and admiration of our merchants and navi¬ 
gators, by their accuracy and reliability. Following these 
prognostications, whenever a wind, with velocity exceeding 
twenty-five miles per hour is expected, cautionary signals are 
ordered to be displayed at the threatened points, consisting 


67 


of a red flag, with black ce*ntre by day, and a lantern with 
red light by night. A notable instance of the value of these 
signals occurred on November 14. 

The cautionary flag was displayed at 3.15 P. M., and all 
vessels regarded the caution, and remained safely in port, 
except the Star of the East, whose captain ventured out and 
was obliged to put back, the predicted gale coming on with 
great fury at 12.10 A. M., of the next day. We need not 
add that one captain certainly will in future bear testimony 
to the value of the storm signals, and will respect them im¬ 
plicitly. The Government is doing everything in its power 
for the improvement of the signal service. All the observ¬ 
ers are taught by competent instructors at Fort Whipple, 
and undergo careful examination before being placed on 
duty. A new cipher has been adopted for telegraphic com¬ 
munications by which ten words can give more information 
than was formerly transmitted by twenty. The daily jour¬ 
nals and our citizens in all the relations of active life are be¬ 
ginning to appreciate and to express their appreciation of 
the importance of the signal-service. 

Capt. Nash, commander of the underwriters’ relief steam¬ 
boat, told the chairman of your committee that he would 
never leave port with a vessel when the signal-officer pre¬ 
dicted a coming dangerous storm, or gale of wind. On 
one occasion, when the appearance of the sky, to a superfi¬ 
cial observer, might seem quite threatening, Capt. Nash, 
desiring to take a steamer out a port, applied to the signal 
office at Portland and was assured that for twenty-four hours 
he would experience but light breezes and a flurry of snow 
during the latter part of the time. Perfectly confiding in 
the signal officer, he immediately left the port, proceeded 
for seventeen hours in almost perfect calm, then experienced 
the predicted flurry of snow, and reached his destination in 
safety. 

The officer at the Boston station, Henry E. Cole, is a most 
skillful and intelligent observer, and full of interest and 
enthusiasm in his work. He will gladly meet any member 


68 


of the board at his office, and explain to them his charts and 
maps, and the workings of his various interesting instru¬ 
ments to measure the height, the weight and moisture of the 
air, and to ascertain the force and direction of the winds. 
It is to be hoped that all our mercantile and scientific asso¬ 
ciations will continue to take an interest in and cooperate 
with the observers in their arduous but important work. 

In conclusion, the committee would reiterate their cheerful 
and grateful testimony to the skill, fidelity and industry 
with which the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, General 
Myer, has managed this department of the national service, 
and to the continued faithful and intelligent performance of 
duty by the able assistants whom he has called around him 
at Washington, and stationed at the different posts of obser¬ 
vation throughout the land. 

Thomas Gaffield, 
John Cummings, 

M. D. Ross, 

Eugene H. Sampson, 
Robert S. Perkins. 


Woods’ Hole, Massachusetts, 
September 29 th, 1871. 

Dear Sir: The telegraphic despatches relating to the 
weather, which you were so kind as to order sent me here, 
have been regularly received, and have been of the utmost 
assistance to me in my explorations—enabling me to deter¬ 
mine with almost unerring certainty upon the feasibility and 
propriety of starting out upon any projected expedition. As 
most of my time has been spent on the water, the benefit of 
this information has been proportionately great. The num¬ 
ber of instances in which the anticipation failed to be verified 
by the experiences of the day have been extremely few; 
and, as the inhabitants of the village are nearly all sea-faring 



69 


men or fishermen, they have been in the babit of applying 
to me for indications *of the weather, and guided their own 
movements by them. 

I write now, to-day, that, as I expect to leave this place in 
a few days, having finished my summer’s work, I shall not 
trouble you to continue the transmission either of the weather 
despatch or the weather map, both of which have been re¬ 
ceived with much punctuality. Hoping to have the oppor¬ 
tunity of expressing in person to you my sense of obligation 
in this matter, I remain, very respectfully, yours, 

(Signed,) Spencer F. Baird, 

U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 

Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, IT. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 


MICHIGAN. 


The Weather Station on Lake Huron. 

A few days since the Board of Trade in this City, by vote, 
requested the War Department to establish a signal station 
at Port Hope. There are those, however, who think Au 
Sauble the better point of the two for a station of this kind. 
The former point is only about sixty miles distant from St. 
Clair river, and it is pretty generally conceded that the state 
of the weather does not vary at that point materially from 
that of Detroit, and in most instances, as might have been 
seen within a short time past, it is uniformly the same. 





70 


Tlie danger to the shipping is almost exclusively centered 
from the Straits to Point Au Barque. Prom that point to 
the river there is more or less protection afforded, and hence 
it would seem the necessity of locating the above signal 
station at Au Sauble, instead of Port Hope, as some have 
suggested. It is the point above all others.— Detroit , July 
21, 1871. 


Hit It Again. 

Monday night the red light was hoisted at the govern¬ 
ment signal station to indicate the coming of a storm, and 
sure enough the storm came last evening as predicted, the 
snow shaking down in a lively way. The signal men have 
hardly ever been wrong in their reckoning, and the public 
are fast losing faith in the “ oldest inhabitant” and other 
self-styled weather-prophets .—Detroit Free Press , November 
29, 1871. 


Board of Trade Booms, 

Detroit, Mich., Feb . 17, 1871. 

It is hereby certified, that, at a meeting of the Board of 
Trade of the City of Detroit, held on the 6th of January 1871, 
the following preamble and resolution were unanimously 
adopted: 

Whereas , This Board is deeply impressed with the impor¬ 
tance and value to commerce of the system of signals re¬ 
cently inaugurated through the beneficence of our Govern¬ 
ment, as well as of the desirability of perfecting the system, 
so far as changes can be made directly calculated to sub¬ 
serve the great and rapidly developing interest sought to be 
promoted; and 




71 


Whereas , No stations have been located in the Lake 
region between Milwaukee and Detroit, a circuit of six 
hundred miles in extent, embracing the main track of com¬ 
merce of the lakes, the navigation of which is attended 
with more than ordinary peril; therefore, 

Resolved , That Congress is hereby respectfully requested 
to appropriate a sufficient sum to secure the establishment 
of signal stations at Escanaba and Huron City. 

A true copy, 

(Signed,) Ray. Haddock. 


Board of Trade Rooms, 

Detroit, Mich., April 6, 1871. 

Dear Sir : We have the honor to inform you that, at a 
special meeting of the Board held this day, the following 
preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted, 

Whereas , Experience has demonstrated the inestimable 
importance and value to the marine interest of the weather 
reports furnished under the auspices of the War Depart¬ 
ment ; be it 

Resolved , That the Chief Signal Officer is hereby respect¬ 
fully requested to cause said reports to be furnished this 
point daily from the west, northwest, southwest and lake 
stations. 

Respectfully your obedient servant, 

(Signed,) C. M. Garrison, 

President. 

(Signed,) R. Haddock, 

Secretary. 



72 


MIDNISTESOT 


St. Paul, Minn., June 27, 1S71. 

To tlie Chief Signal Officer of the Array. 

Dear Sir : I would most respectfully ask to have a copy 
of the monthly meteorological chart for our academy of 
natural sciences. The sergeant will gladly furnish it, with 
your permission; and here let me say, the sergeant is under 
my daily observation, and it gives me pleasure to commend 
his politeness and efficiency on all occasions in making and 
furnishing weather bulletins, &c., &c. The only delay is 
caused by non-arrival of telegrams. 

Yours, very respectfully, 

R. O. Sweeney, 

President Academy Natural Sciences, 
and Chairman Meteorological Committee, Chamber of Commerce. 


MISSOURI. 


Weather Telegrams and Storm Forecasts. 

It has been hitherto thought that only persons engaged in 
maritime pursuits were specially interested in the meteorol¬ 
ogy of storms. But the importunities of science are forcing 
all classes to realize that not only each branch of industry, 
but the welfare and security of every person, whether on the 






73 


sea or on land, more or less depends upon a general knowl¬ 
edge of the law of storms, and upon a timely warning, 
through some organized agency, of their approach. 

To this end, various governments are taking the matter in 
hand; and by the establishment, within their own jurisdic¬ 
tion, of bureaus charged with this special subject and its col¬ 
lateral investigations, are endeavoring, not only to educate 
the people to a just comprehension of its importance, but 
by enlisting their interest and cooperation, to give the great¬ 
est usefulness to efforts in this direction. Congress, at its 
last session, authorized, under the direction of the War De¬ 
partment, the establishment of a Meteorological Bureau, and 
it has been placed in charge of Gen. Myer, the Chief Signal 
Officer of the Army. Observers are now stationed at all the 
principal cities along our seaboards, as well as on the lakes, 
and in the interior, and at those military posts of the new 
States and Territories, that are reached by telegraph, whose 
duty it is to give timely notice of the approach of danger. 
These being in constant communication with the central 
office, their reports are scanned by experts, who can at once, 
and with remarkable precision, not only trace out the path 
that will be pursued by a storm prevailing at any point, but 
even foretell its approach to such point, and thus forewarn 
the shipping of the seaboard and lakes, and eVery part of the 
interior, in order that railroads, steamboats, farmers, manu¬ 
facturers, builders, and other mechanics, as well as travelers, 
invalids, and all who may be in positions of exposure, may 
have ample time to secure themselves or their property against 
the too frequently disastrous effects of resistless winds, rains 
and freshets, or snows and cold. 

It will no doubt surprise many to learn that the laws gov¬ 
erning storms are as fixed as those controlling any of the 
other phenomena of nature, and are now so well known, that 
by the establishment of a proper system of observations, the 
beneficial results may be daily felt in some part or another of 
our country. 

Independently of its utility, the whole subject—like all the 

10 


74 


wonders of nature—is so interesting that it well repays inves¬ 
tigation. With the view of directing the minds of our read¬ 
ers into the proper channel for its elucidation, we would call 
their attention to an article—the first of a series—in Scrib¬ 
ner’s Magazine, for February, from the pen of Prof. T. B. 
Maury, of New York, whose faculty for presenting scientific 
and abstruse subjects in simple and attractive language is 
seldom surpassed .—Missouri Democrat , January 19,1871. 


The Telegraph and the Storm. 

The statement of Mr. Singleton, the weather observer at 
this point, that he was in constant receipt of applications 
from parties in the country and elsewhere, requesting him to 
send them daily bulletins of the weather forecasts, and the 
letters that have just passed between the committee of our 
Merchants’ Exchange and the Chief Signal Officer, Gen. 
Myer, in regard to the connection of reports of the stages of 
the rivers at various leading points with these daily bulle¬ 
tins, show how general is becoming the interest of all classes 
of our people in the operations of the Meteorological Bureau, 
which, in its inception, less than tw T o years ago, was scouted 
and ridiculed by most of the journals that took any part in 
the discussion of its organization, and especially by those of 
the seaboard and lake towns. Yet the work of this admir¬ 
able institution is as yet in its incipiency, so far as its possi¬ 
bilities in the interests of commerce, agriculture, and science 
are concerned. It embraces a comparatively unoccupied 
field in this country, and one which from its extent—reach¬ 
ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf of 
Mexico to the Lakes—will afford the grandest theatre for 
the study of meteorological phenomena that, in the present 
condition of civilization, can be found anywhere on the 
earth’s surface. We are glad to see that Gen. Myer and his 
staff of observers and workers seem fully alive to the import- 



75 


mice of the duties of the situation. There is probably no 
single record of intelligence in the morning papers that is 
so universally consulted by our readers as the “ weather re¬ 
ports and forecasts/’ which are telegraphed from the Bureau 
at Washington to every part of the country, and in order to 
have an intelligent knowledge of the process by which the 
data is obtained and rendered available, as well as of the 
general laws governing storms, our people would find it an 
interesting and instructive study for both themselves and 
their children, to give more than ordinary attention to the 
admirable articles that appear from time to time in our 
monthly journals upon this subject. 

Scribner for February and March, and Harpers’ Monthly 
for August, contain articles by Prof. T. B. Maury that are 
beautifully written, and are full of instruction upon this in¬ 
teresting topic. The fearful storms which frequently sweep 
over our country and carry such devastation of material ob¬ 
jects in their paths, become appalling in their destruction of 
human life when passing over the densely populated regions 
of India and China. Prof. Maury speaks of one that oc¬ 
curred at Calcutta in 1864, that “ destroyed in a single day 
45,000 lives,” and we know of another that swept over the 
southern part of China in 1849, in which it is estimated that 
100,000 people perished in one night! Yet the vast majority 
of these people would have been saved, had there been the 
same means in those countries for giving timely warnings of 
the approach of the storms that this signal service now 
affords to us. 

The time is not distant when no mariner will weigh his 
anchor, nor farmer reap his harvest before first consulting 
these weather forecasts, and when physicians and surgeons 
will both well consider them in the treatment of wounds 
and diseases. 

Commercial nations in all time have endeavored in one 
way or another, to foretell coming storms so as to give neces¬ 
sary warning to vessels along their coasts, and the old Roman 
castles were provided with pointed rods to which the sen- 


76 


tinels in their rounds presented the iron points of their 
halberds; and if the contact evolved an electric spark, the 
alarm was sounded for the benefit of both farmer and fisher¬ 
man, and although the instruments now used in taking ob¬ 
servations, and the appliances by which the alarm is flashed 
from ocean to ocean, is a marvelous improvement upon the 
rude manner of accomplishing the same object by the 
ancients, yet so far as our knowledge of the generation or 
operation of the electricity in storms is concerned we are 
but little in advance of them. Observation had taught 
them that when the electric spark was seen there was danger 
in the atmosphere, and observation has shown us that elec¬ 
tricity is the vital element of storms; but whether the 
electricity produces the storm, or the storm generates the 
electricity, no one has yet satisfactorily explained. There is, 
therefore, a great deal to learn upon this subject, and our 
people cannot do too much to encourage the speedy develop¬ 
ment and practical application of the scientific researches in 
that direction for the benefit and uses of man.— St. Louis 
Republican, July 26, 1871. 


Union Merchants’ Exchange, 

St Louis , Mo., July 7, 1871 . 

To Glen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : According to the suggestion in the circular 
of the Chief Signal Officer to the boards of trade, the under¬ 
signed were appointed a committee, by the Exchange of this 



77 


city, to confer from time to time with the Chief Signal Offi¬ 
cer, and to take, in conjunction with him, such steps, or to 
recommend for the consideration of the Board, such action 
as may he deemed advisable. 

We feel assured our community, and the members of our 
Exchange, highly appreciate the importance of this new 
Department, the recorded observations of which will become 
of more value every day, both for the safety of commerce 
and to our agricultural community. 

We would respectfully suggest to the Department the im¬ 
portance to the commerce of the Mississippi Valley of regu¬ 
lar official observations of the rise and fall of the waters in 
our rivers, at the cities and towns where there are stations, 
to be included in the daily telegraphic reports. These ob¬ 
servations could be taken three times daily, and will have 
the stamp of official exactness to recommend them to our 
river marine, and will enable our boatmen to judge with 
much more certainty than now the amount of cargo they 
can load. 

There are now working stations at the following cities, 
from which these river reports could be obtained: St. Paul, 
Davenport, Keokuk, St. Louis, Cairo, Memphis, New Or¬ 
leans, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Nashville and Omaha. We 
would also suggest to the Department the establishment, at 
as early a day as possible, of stations on the western slope of 
this Valley, that the climate and the meteorological phe¬ 
nomena of these interesting plains may be given to the pub¬ 
lic with that official authority that shall set at rest all specu¬ 
lation and doubt of their character, as stations on the Kan¬ 
sas Pacific railroad, midway from Kansas City, Mo., to Den¬ 
ver, Col., and one at the latter City would give much valu- 
uable information. 

We would respectfully call your attention to the situation 
of the office here, being surrounded by manufacturing estab¬ 
lishments, the smoke from whose chimneys materially afiect 
such delicate instruments as are required for this service. 


78 


Your observer, Mr. Singleton, we commend for his devo¬ 
tion to his duties, and gentlemanly deportment. We would 
recommend his having an assistant, as the duties are greater 
than one man can perform satisfactorily. 

Very respectfully, yours, &c., 

Geo. P. Plant, Chairman , 
Wm. H. Scudder, 

R. P. Tansey, 

Committee. 




Weather and Water Reports. 

Among the few benefits which the country has derived 
from the rule of the present administration, the system of 
weather reports, now in active operation, deserves to stand 
in the foremost rank. Inaugurated without any of that 
preliminary trumpet blowing, which is usually thought 
necessary in governmental experiments, it has made its 
way, against some opposition and much ridicule, to a posi¬ 
tion where neither the one nor the other need any longer 
be feared. People who laughed at the idea of adapting 
meteorological science to a purely practical, every-day use, 
and found food for amusement only in the formal bulletins 
from different sections of the country, now appreciate the 
work at its proper value, and derive from it information at 
once accurate and valuable. We do not doubt that this 
system has already been the means of saving a large amount 
of life and property on sea and land, and as prolonged ex¬ 
perience and new discoveries bring it nearer and nearer 
absolute perfection, the sphere of usefulness must necessarily 
enlarge until it embraces the interests and the plans of all 
classes of community. The weather may retain its pro¬ 
verbial uncertainty, but thanks to the machinery set in 
motion at Washington, we shall be able to predict with 



79 


reasonable certainty what its purposes are, so far as the 
American continent is concerned. 

The success of these reports, and the hearty appreciation they 
have gained in our own country and Europe, has encouraged 
the War Department to go a step further, and this time in a 
direction especially interesting to the citizens of the great Val¬ 
ley. On and after the 1st of January, 1872, the stage of water 
at all the prominent points on the Mississippi and its tribu¬ 
taries will he measured every day by Government officials, 
and transmitted by telegraph in the same way the weather 
bulletins now are. We understand that it is the intention 
of Mr. Singleton, Signal Officer at St. Louis, to have the re¬ 
ports ready by 4.80 P. M. every day, and posted on ’Change 
for the convenience of steamboat men and shippers. Here¬ 
tofore the officers of a steamer starting upon a trip north or 
south were obliged to draw their information regarding the 
depth of the river from persons who had just traversed it, and 
whose interest or ignorance might induce them to give 
erroneous intelligence. How, there can be no errors inten¬ 
tional or otherwise, and pilots will he furnished with figures 
upon which they may confidently rely under all circum¬ 
stances. How much this simple device will facilitate navi¬ 
gation upon our western waters, we need not say, and Sec¬ 
retary Belknap is entitled to the thanks of the country for 
having thus recognized, in a practical and efficient manner, 
the value of that commerce which contributes to the wealth 
and prosperity of every portion of the Union .—St Louis 
Republican , December 21, 1871. 


The Late Tornado—Value of Storm Signals. 

The late sudden and disastrous tornado, by which so many 
lives were lost, and an enormous amount of property des¬ 
troyed, is another reminder of the importance of storm sig¬ 
nals, to which we have heretofore alluded. 



80 


The science of meteorology, which has been too long 
neglected, we are pleased to see being rapidly and certainly 
advanced, by the regular observations of the Storm Signal 
Corps, and in the course of a very few years the prediction 
of the chief of this interesting bureau, “ that a storm may he 
foretold with mathematical accuracy,” will be realized. By 
this means the saving of life and property, on both land and 
sea, will he incalculable, if due attention be paid to its warn¬ 
ings of the approach of storms. Had the system been per¬ 
fected and in operation, there is no doubt the lamentable 
loss of life on Wednesday last would have been prevented 
and much valuable property saved.— St. Louis Dispatch , 
March 10, 1871. 


Office of the Department of Public Lamps, 

St. Louis , Mo., December 15, 1871. 
Brig. Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer. 

Will you please send me copy of War Department circu¬ 
lar, the “ Practical use of Meteorological Deports and Wea¬ 
ther Maps” lately issued by the Government, together with 
such other Signal Service reports as you may have. We rely 
much upon your weather reports in the matter of the light¬ 
ing of the city, when using the light of the moon, and will be 
greatly obliged for the latest circulars or information. 

Yours, very truly, 

H. F. Zider, 

Superintendent Public Lamps. 


* 



81 


NEBRASKA. 


The Storm. 

The storm which has now been raging here during the 
past three days, originated in the Rocky Mountains. It was 
first traced to Corinne, and was predicted in this city by the 
remarkable falling of the barometer last Tuesday. During 
the day it fell six-tenths of an inch. On¥ednesday it began 
to rise, with threatening weather and high winds. At 4 
o’clock P. M., on Tuesday, the thermometer in this city stood 
82°, in the shade. At 4 M., yesterday, it was 37°, thus 

showing a fall of forty-five degrees. Warning was given of 
the approach of the storm as it traveled eastward forty-eight 
hours before it reached the lakes and the sea-coast. In for¬ 
mer instances it has been clearly proved that both lives and 
property have been saved. This is due to the watchful and 
intelligent observations and reports of the United States Sig¬ 
nal Service. Mr. W. B. Webster is the officer at the Omaha 
station. He takes careful observations with the most ap¬ 
proved and nicely tested instruments, of the barometer and 
thermometer readings, the force of the winds, and the condi¬ 
tion of the sky, three times each day. These are telegraphed 
east, and thus show to sailors and others what weather may 
be expected there, for it is a well-known law that storms 
usually travel from west to east. 

That this storm has been both severe and aggravating in 
this locality, we need no scientific instruments to tell us. It 
has been more realized in all its ugly features from the contrast 
which it has so strongly presented with the bright and beau¬ 
tiful days and weeks which we have so often and so lately em 
11 



82 


joyed. Probably no climate in the world gives a greater num¬ 
ber of clear days during the year than this of Nebraska. 

Our State lies midway between the oceans, and is far re¬ 
moved from the lakes. For these reasons the damp fogs of 
either sea do not reach us. We rejoice in an entire absence 
of the atmospheric conditions which render England and our 
Atlantic seaboard, and the States bordering on the lakes pe¬ 
culiar homes of consumption. 

We ought, therefore, to bear with the inconvenience of 
our wind storms, when they come, patiently. That is far 
better than lighting the lamps at mid-day, as they do in the 
fogs of London, or seeing our population decimated by con¬ 
sumption .—Daily Herald , Omaha , April 21, 1871. 


The Weather Clerks. 

During the first year of its existence, the “ weather pro¬ 
babilities,” prognosticated by the Signal Bureau, have been 
verified at the ratio of sixty-nine per cent. Thi& calcula¬ 
tion is from the first annual report of the national meteoro¬ 
logical service, and proves two things. First, that the 
officers of the Bureau are not afraid to pronounce impartial 
judgment on their own work; second, that the science of 
meteorology has attained a greater degree of perfection than 
was generally supposed. This first year of the labor of the 
Signal Bureau has been of incalculable benefit to the country 
in saving lives and property. Those engaged in its service 
have been learning while they have been working, and it is 
more than probable that the knowledge gained in the first 
twelve months will go far to render the bureau much more 
efficient in 1872 ,—Daily Press and Herald, December 5, 1871, 



83 


Omaha Board of Trade, 

Omaha, Neb., May 24, 1871. 

Brvt. Brig. Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer of the Army. 

Dear Sir : For the Meteorological Committee of the 
Omaha Board of Trade, I have the honor to acknowledge 
your communication of the 20th inst. This Board fully ap¬ 
preciates the importance of the work in which the Signal 
Office is engaged, and its advantages and wide-spread benefit 
to the business and general interests of the country, and will 
be pleased at any time to give you any information that will 
further the great object which you are so successfully carry¬ 
ing to important results for the whole country. 

Permit me, in this connection, to say that the Signal Officer, 
(Mr. Webster,) in this city, has secured to himself the confi¬ 
dence and esteem of our citizens, and that the Board of Trade 
desires to add its testimony to his untiring attention to the 
faithful discharge of his duties. 

Truly and respectfully, your obedient servant, 

J. Patrick, 

President Board of Trade. 


NEW JERSEY. 


Weather Report System—Station Established at 
Cape May. 

It affords us much pleasure in being able to announce the 
establishment at this point of a station for the observation 
and transmission of weather telegrams and reports for the 
benefit of commerce, and that the officer selected from the 





84 


Signal Service corps is the most acceptable one to Cape May 
the chief could have sent us. 

Wednesday evening of last week Mr. Theo. F. Townsend, 
son of Capt. T. Townsend, of Seaville, in this county, ar¬ 
rived here, with instructions from the War Department to 
establish at once a station for meteorological observations, so 
as to he in readiness by the 24th inst., to fall in with the 
regular telegraphic circuits for the simultaneous transmis¬ 
sion of reports to all the principal cities on the sea and lake 
coasts of the United States, in accordance with the plan so 
successfully inaugurated last November. Observer Town¬ 
send has selected the most central available point for locat¬ 
ing his headquarters, where he will make his observations 
three times each day. Reports will be received by him 
from forty-seven other stations, and the promised coopera¬ 
tion of the officers and employes of the various telegraph 
companies insures facilities for the development of meteo¬ 
rological telegraphy unequaled in any other country. In 
addition to the regular tabulated reports of the weather, 
and so forth, Mr. Townsend informs us that he will receive, 
at twelve o’clock each night, a synopsis of the weather for 
the previous twenty-four hours. Of course these reports 
will be furnished the local press, and during the publication 
of our daily paper will be of great interest to our visitors in 
determining the “ probabilities ” of the weather. 

Thus far the reports have wisely abstained from predic¬ 
tions except in the form of “ probabilities,” and these are 
limited to about twelve hours in the future. But higher 
and more important uses of the system are yet to come, 
whereby the movements of the severe northeast storms of 
the Atlantic coast, and other threatening changes in the 
weather shall be notified to passing vessels; and these are 
expected to hoist similar signals, so as to notify other ves¬ 
sels, so that all who come within the range of the system 
may be informed in due season of the perils ahead, and 
make their preparations, -or run into harbor, accordingly. 
This will, perhaps, be the highest use of the Signal Service; 


85 


but if it be continued in full force, as it should be, there are 
scores of ways in which its observations and reports can be 
turned to the interest, the convenience, and even to the 
safety of the public, whose servant it is.— Ocean Wave , Cape 
May , May 25, 1871. 


Princeton, K J., September 18, 1871. 

Genera] Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A. 

Dear, Sir : 

****** 

I take this opportunity to thank you, also for the daily 
reports and maps of the weather. The remarkable coinci¬ 
dence, in most cases, of the published probabilities, derived 
solely from the distribution of barometric pressure with the 
real atmospheric changes, confirms me in the conviction to 
which I have arrived long ago, that these changes are due 
to unequal pressure arising from differences of temperature 
and moisture. The electrical phenomena to which some 
are inclined to look for the hidden cause of the same are, in 
the rule, only the consequences. 

I remain, dear sir, with sincere regard, truly yours, 

Arnold Guyot. 



86 


NEW YOEK 


Tub utility of the system of storm signals adopted by 
the Government has been shown more than once. In De¬ 
cember last a storm swept over the Western States, and its 
arrival at given points was foretold with the greatest accuracy, 
and the system then excited considerable attention. It is 
possible to calculate the effects of the two great forces which 
influence the atmosphere at ordinary times—the sun’s heat 
and the rotation of the earth—and thus common atmos¬ 
pheric currents are well enough understood, but as all the 
forces at work at any given time cannot be subjected to 
analysis, the storm signals become invaluable aids in show¬ 
ing the elements of an approaching storm, and hence, in 
preparing to meet it. To-day, if the signals do not fail us, 
we are to have a storm of some violence. On the 14th the 
barometer was rapidly falling west of the Alleghanies, and 
a heavy storm of sleet and snow prevailed in Michigan and 
the Valley of the Mississippi; the barometers on the Atlan¬ 
tic coast were falling also, and the probability was that the 
storm would reach us on Monday. At the time of writing, 
rain, attended by lightning, is falling heavily, and everything 
looks as if Monday were to be moist and uncomfortable, if 
nothing worse.—A. Y . World , January 16, 1871. 


The February number of Scribner’s Monthly has a very 
interesting and instructive article upon Weather Telegrams 
and Storm Forecasts, which we commend to the notice of 
all interested in storms on land and sea—as, indeed, who is 
not, in the face of the great destruction from cyclones and 



87 


other ravages of wind and storm ? The telegraph has in no 
one thing been more useful than in noting the coming and 
moving of great storms. The seaboard is often made to 
know far in advance what a few hours will do, and to prepare 
for the consequences. A storm starting on the Rocky 
Mountains reached Lake Erie on the following day, and the 
warning had the effect of preparation and of saving valuable 
property, if not life. All along from Cheyenne, Milwaukee, 
Chicago to Cleveland, a storm last month was predicted 
with perfect accuracy, and it came with great fury. Infor¬ 
mation like this is not only important to the ship-owner 
and sailor, hut the farmer, and the Signal Corps of the Gov¬ 
ernment cannot fail to be of great service to the people._ 

Evening Express, Jan. 16, 1871. 


Getting Ahead of Storms. 

For a period of nearly three months the daily newspapers 
of our principal cities have been publishing a meteorological 
report, showing the actual condition of the weather at many 
important points of observation in widely separated parts of 
the country. Our own table includes reports, taken at about 
8 o’clock in the morning, simultaneously, from Boston, Buf¬ 
falo, Cheyenne, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, 
Key West, Milwaukee, Mobile, Nashville, New Orleans, New 
York, Omaha, Oswego, Pittsburg, St. Louis, St. Paul, Toledo 
and Washington. Such reports are taken thrice daily, and 
they are furnished to the press and to the Boards of Trade 
gratuitously, for the benefit of the people. The service is 
performed by the War Department, under the immediate 
charge of the Chief Signal Officer, our former townsman, 
General Albert J. Myer. 

The primary object of this beneficent work on the part of 
the Government is to foster and protect our inland and 
ocean commerce. It is expected that, by means of these 



88 


meteorological reports, notice may be given, on the northern 
lakes and on the sea-coast of the approach and force of 
storms. But the marine is not the only interest that may 
profit by this' enterprise. The people generally will soon 
learn to look in the papers for the information, and a study 
of the reports will enable them to judge of the coming 
weather as effecting their several interests. The farmer 
will learn the probable course of rains. The butcher will 
be aware of cold currents, and will know when to prepare 
for killing and curing. Thousands will read the reports to 
see the condition of the weather at places where they have 
friends. The interest of this information will increase with 
the increase of the people’s knowledge of the science of 
meteorology, a branch of study hitherto almost entirely 
# neglected, but which will become more popular through the 
publication of these weather reports. What has been ac¬ 
complished thus far is only a beginning. The future will 
justify the beginning, if the experiment shall have a future. 

For, as we understand the matter, the arrangement under 
which this valuable information has been given to the public 
is only temporary, and further action by Congress will be 
needed to make it a permanent one. No agreement has yet 
been made with the several telegraph companies, over 
whose wires the reports are sent, for a s fixed remuneration 
for the service. The companies were unable to specify a 
proper charge to the Government, and they very liberally 
agreed with General Myer to transmit the messages for an 
experimental period of four months, leaving it to the War 
Department to fix the remuneration for that time, and ex¬ 
pecting that the knowledge gained would enable them to 
adjust a proper price for the future work at the end of the 
experimental service. The four months will expire, we be¬ 
lieve, with the month of February, and then will come the 
question of whether the reports shall or shall not be con¬ 
tinued. The result will depend greatly upon the liberality 
of the telegraph companies; for it is not to be presumed 
that Congress will consent that the War Department should 


89 


pay more than a reasonable sum for the service. We hope 
that the telegraph companies will see their way to dealing 
generously with the public in this matter, for, after all, it is 
the public with whom they will be dealing. 

The definite contract, if one should be made, ought to in¬ 
volve some modification of the present arrangement. The 
reports are now sent over the wires at hours when they are 
the least occupied with regular business. This, perhaps, was 
all that could be done at first; but provision ought to be 
made for transmitting the reports at such hours of the day 
as shall be demonstrated by experience to be the hours 
best adapted to the success of the system in the interest of 
science and commerce. The reports published in the morn¬ 
ing papers are taken at midnight; those published in the 
evening papers are taken at 8 o’clock in the morning; a 
third report is taken at 6 o’clock in the evening, but that is 
not published in the newspapers. We think that a noon 
report would be more useful than either of the reports now 
taken, and it could be published in the evening papers. 
This suggestion is made quite as much in the interest of 
commerce as in that of the press, for more vessels leave 
port after than before noon, and prognostications from noon 
weather reports would, therefore, influence commerce to a 
greater extent than from either of the other reports. 

The experiment was begun too late last season to enable 
the Chief Signal Officer to report any great advantage as 
having been gained from it by our inland marine. The 
experience of any single season, however, even the whole 
of it, may not afford very startling results. What the De¬ 
partment hopes to accomplish, in this work, would surely 
be vastly beneficial alike to commence and to science. After 
a time general deductions can be published from the cen¬ 
tral office, and signals can be displayed on our coasts, the 
same as are now displayed on the coasts of England, Ireland 
and France, to give notice of atmospheric conditions. All 
pains are taken to make the service accurate and efficient. 
The official observers are soldiers of the United States. 

12 


90 


They are sworn by their military oaths to do their duty, and 
they are subject to military penalities for any neglect of it. 
They are examined as to general education before they are 
permitted to enter the Signal Service. Then they are 
specially educated for the duties of meteorological obser¬ 
vers, and practised in the use of instruments. They are then 
examined by a board before they are allowed to go on duty. 
They are supplied with instruments of the best standards, 
and are taught how to place and use them. Their instruc¬ 
tions are so precise that even the readings, made as they are 
at synchronous times, must also be made in the same order 
of precedence : thus, when the observer at Boston is at the 
barometer, the Cheyenne or San Francisco observer is read¬ 
ing his; and so with the thermometer,—it is almost certain 
that the observers at all the different stations are examining 
their instruments at the same instant of time. The reports 
are corrected for elevation, temperature and instrumental 
errors, and are then so placed on the wires that the receipt 
of them at New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, Buffalo 
and other stations, is as nearly simultaneous as possible; and 
when the reports are received at the central office in Wash¬ 
ington it is known, by that fact, that they are received at all 
the other designated stations. 

It is doubtful whether a more thorough telegraphic organi¬ 
zation has ever been devised, but of course it will improve. 
The work in the United States has already attracted atten¬ 
tion in Europe, and it is admitted that this country has now 
the most widely-diffused telegraphic weather reports of any 
country on the globe. It is difficult to imagine, and almost 
impossible to over estimate, the benefits that will accrue 
when years of practice and experience shall have perfected 
the hasty labors of to-day, and when knowledge and cer¬ 
tainty will be attained in this interesting but difficult branch 
of science. It is not impossible that on the line of the lakes 
no storm will be encountered which has not been foretold 
and prepared for. The Chief Signal Officer estimates that 
three reports a day, allowing of intervals no longer than 


91 


eight hours, will be sufficient for the purpose. In his last 
report he says: “It would be rare that a storm of magni¬ 
tude would progress more than three hundred miles in that 
period of time; ” while “ the fact that an extensive storm is 
moving in a certain direction, and its movement and force 
reported at intervals of a few hours, as it reaches the dif¬ 
ferent stations in its course, will, of themselves, be a warn¬ 
ing to points further in the track of its probable progress/’ 
The Atlantic coast stations from Florida to Maine are, or 
are to he, filled with these weather observers. The general 
movement of sea-coast storms is from the south to the north, 
and it follows that storms passing these Atlantic stations can 
be reported some hours before their arrival. 

The whole subject of “ Weather Telegrams and Storm 
Forecasts” is ably treated in the current number of Scrib¬ 
ner’s Monthly, and is finely illustrated. The next number 
will contain a continuation and the conclusion of the article, 
in which the American system, (which we have thus endea¬ 
vored to give an idea of,) devised and operated by the Chief 
Signal Officer of the Army, will be fully described and illus¬ 
trated with accurate drawings. We commend the subject 
and the magazine to all intelligent readers who would keep 
themselves au courant with one of themost important and 
interesting of the scientific movements of the age .—Buffalo 
Commercial Advertiser , January 23, 1871. 


Storm Telegrams. 

Under the wise and energetic supervision of Gen. Myer, 
Chief Signal Officer U. S. Army, the act of Congress for in¬ 
stituting a proper system of storm observations, and publish¬ 
ing in the press a daily report of the same, has become a 
fixed fact, and by its good results is daily evidencing the 
wisdom of the measure. It should be remembered that the 
undertaking will have its defamers. Every great measure 



92 


for the public good has met such opposition; and the system 
now under consideration, when adopted in Europe, had for 
years its hitter enemies, even among the classes whose lives 
and property it was intended to save. But one of the lead¬ 
ing journals of Great Britain now says of the Storm Bureau 
of that nation: “Its services, in the saving of life and 
property, are of the most valuable character. There is no 
intelligent officer of the Government, or business man, but 
would give his vote for its continuance and increased effi¬ 
ciency ” 

There needs, however, in this country—as was the case 
abroad when the system was first adopted—to he much 
effort put forth to give the public a better understanding of 
what it is proposed shall he accomplished by the storm tele¬ 
grams ; and also the amount of evidence there is that the 
whole scheme is feasible and practicable. We are glad, 
therefore, to be able to say such information is being pre¬ 
pared by competent hands, and is even now being placed 
before the public.— Bureau , February , 1871. 


Extension of Storm Signals to the Pacific. 

After to-morrow, February 1, regular Weather Reports 
will be received at Washington three times a day, from Cor- 
inne, in Utah, and San Francisco, in California. The system 
of storm signals which has so frequently been advocated by 
the Herald , and the adoption of which has already com¬ 
mended itself by important direct or indirect advantages, 
will thus be extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The 
first of the recent heavy snow storms came, according to 
unanimous reports, from the Rocky Mountains. The pre¬ 
sumption is that these storms came from the Pacific. One 
important scientific question to be decided by the storm 
signals is whether this was actually the case, proving that 
some of the storms hitherto supposed to sweep from the 



93 


Atlantic over the country, on this side of the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains, have, in fact, swept from the Pacific across the lofty 
Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. It may be expected 
that the system of storm signals will have been so greatly 
perfected and extended within a few months as to satisfy the 
public that we have not exaggerated the immense practical 
services which it is capable of rendering. This system will 
effect a saving of life and property on both land and sea, 
which will be incalculable if due attention be paid to its 
warnings of the approach of storms, from whatever direction. 
— N. Y. Herald , January 31, 1871. 


The Magazines. 

Scribner’s Monthly for February, the fourth issue of this 
delightful new literary venture, comes freighted full of fresh, 
vivacious, sparkling prose and poetry, thus admirably sus¬ 
taining the expectations that its first appearance awakened. 
Mr. Hassard’s instructive illustrative article on “ The New 
York Mercantile Library,” alone guarantees a hearty wel¬ 
come, and Professor T. B. Maury’s valuable contribution on 
“ Weather Telegrams and Storm Forecasts,” with notes and 
diagrams, is worth the subscription price to the reader. 
Young folks and old alike will be pleased with the continu¬ 
ation of the story of “ Lucky Peer,” from Christian Hans 
Anderson’s genial pen. But these are accompanied by a 
rare selection of timely and varied themes ranging into the 
realms of history, poesy and romance, followed by editorial 
gleanings and annotations concerning “ Home and Society,” 
“ Books and Authors at Home,” &c., &c., which do credit to 
Mr. Holland’s industry, as well as to his recognized talent. 
The abundance, novelty, and merit of Scribner’s Monthly 
must command success.— N. Y Herald , January 13, 1871. 



94 


Weather Probabilities. 

The Government has hut recently entered on a novel and 
most interesting branch of work—that of forecasting the 
weather from barometrical and thermometrical indications 
in widely separated parts of the country. We bespeak for 
the labors of the “ Signal Service Bureau/’ as it is called, 
the patient and tolerant judgment of the public. Meteor¬ 
ological science is yet in its infancy; but it is a science, not 
a quackery, and its assiduous cultivation will yet give it the 
desired exactitude. The system has now been in operation 
but a short time. Observers have to be educated; the best 
points of observation have yet to be determined; the laws 
of the weather have yet to be settled by repeated compari¬ 
sons and results; the officer at Washington who makes up 
his daily estimate of the “ probabilities ” for every twenty- 
four hours has yet to gain his stores of practical experience. 
Notwithstanding all the defects incident to the development 
of so difficult an art as foretelling the weather, the bulletins 
that we daily publish show that it can be done, even thus 
early in the efforts, with a great degree of precision. The 
general character of the weather in the Atlantic Sates (and 
we suppose also in other parts of the country) has been 
several times predicted with remarkable accuracy. We im¬ 
press upon all those who consult that portion of our 
paper the importance of reading the estimation of “ proba¬ 
bilities ” with care. It will be seen that the predictions are 
rarely positive. They are qualified with plenty of “ ifs ” 
and “ buts,” as they need must be in the present imperfect 
state of meteorological science. But it is of great value to 
shippers and travelers to have even the probabilities of the 
weather given, when experience proves that these in most 
cases come true. In all the affairs of life men go upon pro¬ 
babilities. The success of the experiment up to this time 
warrants the belief, however, that after the apparatus shall 
have been putin complete working order, and the staff of ob¬ 
servers become weather-wise through much practice, the 


95 


predictions will take on a more definite form, and perhaps 
be as reliable as those of tides and eclipses. There are fixed 
and unerring laws regulating the weather, and it but re¬ 
mains for human ingenuity to find them out and apply 
them .—Journal of Commerce , February 25, 1871. 


The Government Weather Reports. 

We have been carefully watching for some days past the 
daily weather reports of the Government Signal Service 
Bureau, and its statements of the condition of the skies in 
different parts of the Union, the courses of the great storm 
currents, and the probabilities of the weather for a day or 
two ahead, east, west, north and south; and from these 
observations we are satisfied that this meteorological institu¬ 
tion is in a fair way to render signal service to the country 
on the land and water in regard to approaching and disap¬ 
pearing storms. For instance, in the official weather report 
of Sunday last, from Washington, at 11.25 P. M., after noting 
the winds and rains in different sections of the Union, the 
opinion is given that on Monday “ fair weather, with fresh 
winds, will probably prevail on the Gulf and Upper Lakes, 
and brisk winds and clearing-up weather on the Atlantic 
coast and Lower Lakes.” The report for Monday is a com¬ 
plete fulfilment of these predictions. This late storm or 
“ wet spell ” covered so much of the country east of the 
Rocky Mountains that in breaking away the whole interven¬ 
ing country has cleared up. 

We say we have great hopes from this Signal Service 
Bureau of signal service to our landsmen and seamen, espe¬ 
cially our coasters. The season, too, is near at hand when, 
with the breaking up of the winter, we may expect heavy 
floods and freshets, especially in those rivers which drain off 
the surplus water from our melting mountain snows, and 
here our Washington meteorologists may prove themselves 



96 


eminently useful in giving in the most important cases a 
seasonable warning of a coming storm. The Bureau is doing 
very well, and is making some very interesting discoveries 
in relation to the movements of our sorms from the west 
to the east, and from the south to the north, and we should 
like to see the area of its operations still further enlarged.— 
New York Herald, Feb. 28, 1871. 


Storm Signals and weather portents are only just begin¬ 
ning to have their full importance recognized by our com¬ 
mercial and agricultural community. It will probably re¬ 
quire a still longer time to convince the general public how 
much we owe to the Washington Bureau, whose painstaking 
efforts furnish us with the daily “ Synopsis of the Weather.” 
To attain something like faultless efficiency, the “ Division 
of Telegrams and Reports for the benefit of Commerce” 
have only to send out their reports earlier in the night.— 
New York Times , February 28, 1871. 


The Battle of the Equinox and Our Storm Signal 
Service. 

Already the battle of the equinoctial elements has opened. 
Judging from its beginning, there is reason to apprehend a 
violent conflict. Within the next ten days, it is not im¬ 
probable the whole country may be swept by storms and 
cyclones, whose fiery track will be sprinkled with the ruin 
of houses and the loss of human life. 

We have just had accounts from the west of the fearful 
tornado in East St. Louis, which reaped a fine harvest of 
destruction; also of one in Memphis, and still a third in 
Mobile. The loss by the first of these alone was at least 
seven lives and one million dollars. It is a fact well known 




97 


to meteorologists, and to be seen on their isobaromic charts, 
that at this season the atmospheric pressure over all North 
America, between the sixtieth parallel, north latitude, and 
the Gulf of Mexico, will diminish and continue to diminish 
until July. The low barometer in the United States, mean¬ 
time, will necessarily invite heavy storms from the two 
oceans that wash their shores, and also from the Gulf, via 
the Valley of the Mississippi—a favorite highway of tem¬ 
pest. 

It most unfortunately happens that at this very time the 
operations of the Signal Service, whose weather telegrams 
and storm warnings have already proved so beneficial, are 
interrupted and thwarted by the Western Union Telegraph 
monopoly. The demands of this corporation for the service 
rendered to the Government were originally far beyond the 
limits of moderation, and would have absorbed twice the 
appropriation Congress made for the Signal Service. That 
these demands were unreasonable was evinced by the fact 
that the Franklin Telegraph Company—a much feebler and 
poorer institution—came forward and offered to do the work 
on much lower terms, and on the terms fixed by General 
Myer. The lines of the latter company, however, not ex¬ 
tending to all the southerly and western stations of the Sig¬ 
nal Service, their proposal could be accepted only in part. 

But whatever maybe the issue of the controversy between 
the monopoly and the Government, the people throughout 
the whole country will be greatly disappointed and annoyed 
at any interruption to the new service. Happily for Ameri¬ 
can commerce and science, it is not now necessary to appeal 
to the English storm signal system to justify and illustrate 
the utility and importance of our Meteorological Bureau. 
Although it is yet in its infancy, and needs patient and 
fostering care and a liberal endownment, it has already won 
some laurels, and its daily bulletins of weather probabilities 
have been generally most signally verified. The percentage 
of “probabilities” fully verified (according to the modest 
estimate of the officer at the head of the enterprise) is fifty 
13 


98 


in every one hundred, verified in part twenty-five per cent., 
and failed twenty-five per cent. It should, however, he 
borne in mind that the failures have been, in a measure, due 
to the lack of information by telegrams from stations not 
yet established. A most beautiful illustration of the value 
of the service was given last month. The tremendous storm 
which wreaked its fury on San Francisco on the 21st of 
February was closely tracked to Corinne, Utah, across the 
Rocky Mountains to Cheyenne and Omaha, and storm warn¬ 
ings of its approach were issued thirty hours in advance of 
its arrival to Chicago, a longer time to Milwaukee and 
Cleveland, and two days’ forewarning were given to Buffalo 
and Oswego. The storm, which in crossing the Rocky 
Mountains had broken off only the base of its revolving 
column, ravaged Chicago, Milwaukee and Cleveland, un¬ 
roofing and overturning houses; it struck Buffalo and Oswego 
with great violence in its course, and finally passed out into 
the Atlantic. Had navigation on the lakes been open, 
doubtless the forewarning had been the saving of many 
lives and richly freighted ships. 

By rights the Signal Service should have been instituted 
for the benefit of commerce at the same time that Admiral 
Fitzroy’s system was established in England, more than ten 
years ago. It is to be earnestly hoped its operations may 
suffer not another hour’s suspension. The knowledge of 
American storms to be gained at this season is too important 
and invaluable, both to the Signal Service and the country, 
to be lost or tampered with.— New York Herald , March 
14, 1871. 


Forecasts of the Weather. 

We alluded on Saturday, in respectful terms, to the sort of 
weather they deal out to the country at Washington, and 
remarked that on the whole, the administratiop of the 



99 


weather was not as satisfactory as it might he—in short, that 
the army was rather overdoing the thing. The three and a 
half days’ continuous rain of last week, and the storm of 
last night and this morning, justify our remarks, and lead to 
the belief that a second deluge is really imminent. The 
“ probability ” for Saturday was “ cloudy and clearing up 
weather along the Atlantic coast,” these words being finally 
verified in the beautiful Sunday that smiled upon us. The 
probability for Monday was “ falling barometer with parti¬ 
ally cloudy weather.” We had all that and something more 
as the rain came down all Monday night in cataracts. The 
“ probability ” for to-day is “ gentle and fresh winds on the 
Middle and East Atlantic.” We hope to feel them before 
night, and to see these lowering clouds disappear. A good 
deal of interest is taken in the “ Signal Office ” reports, and 
the modest statement of “ probabilities ” very often meets 
with remarkable verification. Storm and weather forecasts 
are by no means impossible, and close observation will soon 
clear away some uncertainties that cloud the predictions, and 
give to the announcements of storm prophets a more positive 
value and a stronger claim upon public confidence. Every 
day the importance of the Signal Office reports increases, 
and they will do for us more even than was accomplished by 
Admiral Fitzroy in England. Science slowly grapples with 
the most doubtful problems, and in its untiring search for 
the law that governs what seems to be caprice and nothing 
else, is sure to meet with success .—New York Commercial 
Advertiser , March 21, 1871. 


Our Storm Signal Service. 

This enterprise is fast becoming an important arm of our 
national service. In 1854, while the Anglo-French fleet was 
securely riding the waters before Sebastopol, the telegraph 
announced to its admirals that a fearful storm was moving 



100 


from the west, and would doubtless sweep the Black Sea. 
The telegram was sent by Marshal Vaillant, the then Minis¬ 
ter of War of France, and was despatched from Paris a few 
hours after the storm came in from the Atlantic and broke 
upon the French Coast. The announcement was timely, 
and it is, perhaps, not impossible, that but for the receipt of 
that telegram the assembled navies of the allied nations 
might have gone down before an enemy more to be dreaded 
than the fire of all the Russian forts. In the instance men¬ 
tioned, the fleet, with few exceptions, put to sea and outrode 
the gale; while the troops on shore suffered untold misery 
and loss from the fury of the celebrated “ Black Sea Storm.” 

The grand success of this first experiment in utilizing the 
electric telegraph for forewarning shipping was followed up 
in this country, and in 1857 a formal proposition was made 
to organize a system of telegraphic meteorology extending 
from one end of the land to the other, and far-storm warn¬ 
ings to all our lake and Atlantic sea-ports. 

The practicability of forecasting and predicting the ap¬ 
proach of our great storms has often been demonstrated, 
and is being illustrated afresh every day, in England, Hol¬ 
land, France, Italy and Germany. Indeed, several striking 
verifications of the great value of our system have been given 
by the late bulletins of the Signal Service officers of the 
lakes, by which there is reason to believe several fine ships, 
with cargoes valued at several hundreds of thousands of dol¬ 
lars have escaped the violence of this winter’s tempests. A 
large ratio of the storm forecasts of the Signal Service has 
been verified with astonishing precision. 

The weather is a subject in which all classes are deeply 
interested. If buyers and sellers in the grain market and 
other connected branches of business would take note of our 
daily weather telegrams from all parts of the United States 
they might be much less in the power of heartless specula¬ 
tors. These telegrams have already proved highly useful to 
farmers and planters. The value of the out of door labor¬ 
er’s time would be greatly increased if he could know a day 


101 


beforehand that upon the coming day his ordinary work 
would be suspended. Though eminent meteorologists have 
doubted the wisdom of attempting daily weather forecasts, 
at least negative information, (such as non-occurrence of 
storms,) and also positive information as to the suitableness 
of the coming weather for traveling farming and gardening 
operations, the growth of crops, and for many other objects 
and purposes of human life, could be obtained from daily 
telegrams received from a wide field of observation. 

To be effective, however, the system must extend its ob¬ 
servatories over all parts of the continent, and furnish them 
with the best instruments, to be handled by the ablest scien¬ 
tists. This cannot be done without a liberal appropriation, 
and this, it is to be hoped, will not be refused, considering 
the importance of the promised results. General Myer de¬ 
serves all proper assistance and encouragement in his work. 
—Mercantile Journal , March 23, 1871. 


Discontinuance of the Weather Reports. 

It is only some few months since the daily publication of 
reports of the weather at various points was commenced, but 
during that period they proved valuable in so many instances 
that we regret to learn that for the present these records are 
to be discontinued. This intermission is particularly unfor¬ 
tunate just now, because during the next few months it is of 
the utmost importance to our agricultural community to be 
able to form some forecast of the weather. The farmer regu¬ 
lates his plowing, seed-sowing, and harvesting according to 
his opinion of the weather probabilities, choosing for each 
operation the particular season and time when it can be per¬ 
formed under the most favorable circumstances. During 
the winter months the reports have been chiefly valuable to 
mariners, many of whom have thus been able to protect 
themselves and property from storms announced by tele- 



102 


graph as approaching from some distant point. The cause 
of the cessation in publishing these reports is the expiration 
of the agreement made with the Western Union Telegraph 
Company for their transmission. The original arrangement 
was only for four months, during which time the number of 
stations has been considerably increased, and the reports 
proportionally lengthened, so that the telegraph company 
found it a serious impediment to their business to be com¬ 
pelled to give up their lines for the transmission of such 
messages even twice every twenty-four hours. The price 
stipulated for this service was placed at a very low figure, so 
the company, naturally enough, was not anxious to renew 
such an unprofitable contract. 

The experiment of a complete and regular weather report 
has been sufficiently tested to prove its value to commerce, 
and to demonstrate the important assistance it may give to 
farmers and horticulturists. Of late the system of collecting 
and collating meteorological reports has made such progress 
that the Signal Department in Washington has felt warranted 
in making forecasts for twenty-four hours at a time, which 
have been realized with tolerable accuracy. This work, as 
it progresses, will become of more and more national im- 
porance, and cannot well be left to private enterprise, as has 
been suggested. If the Government employs the observers, 
and compiles the records, it will not do to allow telegraph 
companies to sell these results, as they sell other news. Uor 
is the prospective profit derivable from such a sale likely to 
prove large enough to induce any private company to attempt 
an independent collection of weather observations on as large 
a scale as it has been organized by the Signal Service. The 
only statement explaining the cause of the discontinuance of 
reports we have seen is the one published by the observer in 
charge of the Yew York station. If Gen. Myer, the Chief 
Signal Officer, fails in his efforts to make any arrangement 
with the telegraph companies, the public will be duly noti¬ 
fied, and it will then be easier to tell whether the farmers 
are to have the benefits of weather reports and forecasts 


103 


during the coming season. As some New York dailies still 
continue to publish a synopsis of the weather reports and 
the forecasts, it is not improbable that the papers elsewhere 
may follow their example, so that farmers who can obtain 
the daily papers may not be entirely without meteorological 
information, even if the full reports are discontinued for some 
time to come .—Hearth and Home , March 25, 1871. 


The weathee-wise chaps of the War Department are 
really earning an excellent reputation as trustworthy 
prophets. So far their meteorological speculations have 
been remarkably accurate, and public incredulity is rapidly 
yielding to a formidable array of verified predictions. 
Agreeably to the statement that the “high barometer” 
(which, on Saturday night, was over Maryland,) moved 
eastward on Sunday until it became a “ low barometer,” 
we are now enjoying a rainy interval; but the “Boss” at 
Washington adds the comforting “probability” that it will 
clear up before sunset to-day. Persons interested to test 
these vaticinations would do well to note them down from 
time to time, and compare them with the actual state of 
weather .—Commercial Advertiser , March 27, 1871. 


Weather Prophecies and their Fulfillment. 

The weather markedly fulfills the predictions which were 
contained in the “ probabilities, ” as stated in the weather 
report issued from Washington at 10.30 A. M., yesterday. 
“ Threatening and falling weather on the East Atlantic ” 
was contained in the report, as inferred in the summing up 
of observations which had just been received from all the 
various stations on the continent. We refer to this subject 
to show how almost unexceptionally accurate are the con- 




104 


elusions reached in reference to the coming atmospheric 
variations by the officer in charge of the Meteorological 
Bureau at headquarters. Our readers will find it interesting 
hereafter to note the predictions, and comparing them with 
the state of the weather that for twenty-four hours succeeds 
their publications .—New York Daily News , April 4, 1871. 


Those gold medals for the Washington meteorologists 
that everybody is thinking about, and nobody seems moving 
to confer, ought to be struck off at once. Heretofore all 
weather prophets have been a sort of public laughing stock, 
but the sky-gazers and cloud connoisseurs of the War De¬ 
partment have, in a few short weeks, put our skepticism to 
flight by a series of brilliant vaticinations that reduce weather 
prophecy to the proportions of a positive science. ' There¬ 
fore, trot out your gold medals for the chaps who can so 
unerringly tell us whether our new beaver or “ that gingham 
umbrella” will be in order for to-morrow .—Commercial Ad¬ 
vertiser , April 15, 1871. 


Meteorological Observations. 

According to plans now partially matured, and which 
promise soon to be carried into execution, a grand National 
Observatory will be established on the Equitable Life Insur¬ 
ance Building, corner of Broadway and Cedar streets. This 
movement is taken in accordance with repeated recommen¬ 
dations of the New York Chamber of Commerce, and with 
the cooperation of that body. The point chosen is one of 
the most conspicuous that could be selected for the display 
of signals, and the Equitable Life Insurance Company is 
entitled to credit for its action in this matter. Though not 
enabled to speak definitely, or with authority, (as Mr. Weston, 




105 


civil engineer, to whom the subject is committed, has not 
pertected all of his arrangements,) we understand the design 
is to place the contemplated observatory in communication 
with the meteorological apparatus at Washington City, so 
that public signals may he given in blew York three times a 
day. For this purpose two heavy poles will be erected on 
the roof of the Equitable buildings, and such other works 
as may be required. 

We readily conceive that apparatus of this character may 
contribute very much to the advancement of mercantile in¬ 
terests, by making instantly intelligible for the guidance of 
mariners about going to sea, full information respecting the 
movement of wind and storms in any part of the country, 
or along the coast. It will also be practicable to indicate 
the true time, mean or sideral, but an observatory, in the 
ordinary sense of the word, cannot be thought of anywhere 
near a large city, on account of the tremor caused by moving 
vehicles, not to speak of the impurity of the atmosphere. 
If the project is realized, we may expect a great improve¬ 
ment as compared with the “ time ball” in Wall street, 
which some years ago recorded observations taken at the 
Observatory in Albany.—Yew York Commercial Advertiser , 
April 20, 1871. 


Storm Predictions. 

We have often spoken with confidence and respect of the 
accuracy of the weather predictions made up at Washington, 
by the Signal Department; but if these “ probabilities ” are 
not soon altered in tone, our feelings and those of the public 
will suffer a change. It is not the predictions to which we 
object. They are all right. But it is the kind of weather 
these meteorologists choose to distribute over the country. 
While they are about it, why do they not offer “ probabili¬ 
ties ” of pleasant weather occasionally ? As it is, they send 
14 



106 


us only one perpetual round of “ depression,” u cloudy and 
threatening weather,” “hard rains,” &c. If it be possible, 
let the reader recall the weather for the past three days, 
while we overhaul the forecasts. On Tuesday evening, at 
7.30, the Signal Office predicted “ cloudy weather and light 
rains along the Atlantic coast” tor Wednesday. It was 
cloudy all day. It sprinkled at 10.30 A. M., and at other 
times during the day, and everybody went around with an 
umbrella. In the evening rain set in. In the meantime, 
by way of clinching the evil prognostication of Tuesday, a 
despatch came at 10.30 A. M., on Wednesday, which quietly 
observed that “ cloudy weather would continue.” At 7.30 
A. M., of that evening, we were notified that on Thursday 
there would be “cloudy and rainy weather.” It rained 
pretty much all that day and all night. On Thursday morn¬ 
ing the cheerful forecast was followed up by another at 10.30, 
which informed us that “ no material change is indicated,” 
and now, under date of 1.30 Friday morning, we are notified 
that the probability for to-day is “ Easterly winds, followed 
by southwest winds, and abating rains in the Middle and 
Eastern States.” “ Abating rains,” indeed, why not brought 
to a full stop ? How let us see if the rest follows with that 
fearful certainty which has attended toe gloomy prognostics 
of the past few days. We are completely at the mercy of 
the Signal Office, whose central divinity, from his secure 
indoor seclusion, sends storms and clouds and frosts at his 
own sweet will. How soon he will issue earthquakes and 
typhoons we cannot say. There is one great consolation in 
all this, which is that he is not exempt from the consequence 
of his own prevision, but that he, too, is the victim of the 
calamities he inflicts on others. It is by no means eternal 
sunshine where he sits, and if seismic movements are pre¬ 
dicted, his tripos may be tottered down, even as was the 
temple of Dagon on the powerful Samson .—New York Com¬ 
mercial Advertiser , May 5, 1871. 


107 


Sayings and Doings. 

Very convenient is it in these scientific times to open a 
morning newspaper and learn from it that the 44 probabili¬ 
ties ” are you may take a drive in Central Park, invite your 
friends to dinner, or start on a journey any time within the 
next twenty-four hours, without fear that a storm may over¬ 
take you or disturb your plans. But this is by no means the 
most important use of the American Storm Signal Service, 
which has now been in successful operation for several 
months. Its daily reports, and the “ probabilities ” annexed, 
are of great value to the commercial and agricultural inter¬ 
ests of the country. This service is a branch of the War 
Department, being under the charge of General Myer, 
assisted by an efficient staff of officers, and a corps of about 
seventy-five sergeant observers, who have either been pro¬ 
moted from the regular army service, or specially enlisted 
for the purpose. They are required to pass certain examina¬ 
tions, and are subjected to regular army discipline. There 
are about forty stations of observation, located in all sections 
of the United States, but particularly on the sea-coast and 
the northern lakes; and these are in direct communication 
with the headquarters of the Chief Signal Officer at Wash¬ 
ington. Three times a day simultaneous meteorological 
observations are taken by well-trained observers at these 
stations, and telegraphed to the central office, where they 
are carefully examined and studied, a synopsis made out, 
and also the 44 probabilities,” which are published in the 
principal daily newspapers, and announced by bulletin in all 
the boards of trade and chambers of commerce in the coun¬ 
try. If there are indications at any station of a sudden storm, 
immediate warning is given by telegraph; and in general 
the 44 probabilities ” of approaching weather, daily issuing 
from the Signal Office, have been most strikingly confirmed. 
The Signal Service has but just commenced its labors; but in 
course of time, as instruments become perfected, and experi¬ 
ence and observation increase, it is hoped that a system of 


108 


storm signals will be established along our coasts, so that 
violent and sudden storms or winds may be signaled to ves¬ 
sels by day and by night, and thus many lives and much prop¬ 
erty be saved.— Harper's Bazaar , May 6, 1871. 


Storm Signals on Broadway. 

On a lofty building at the corner of Broadway and Cedar 
street a telegraphic meteorological establishment will soon 
be erected in connection with the Signal Service Bureau at 
Washington, and other points, whereby our outward bound 
mariners will be informed of coming storms in season to 
avoid them or to trim ship and shape their course to meet 
them. This Signal Service Bureau, in its daily weather re¬ 
ports, has already established a great reputation in the accu¬ 
racy, as proved from day to day, of its “ probabilities.” 
These scientific men have solved the mystery of the laws of 
storms in the United States, and we think that this Govern¬ 
ment service is destined to be of incalculable value to the 
country, on the land and the sea ,—Neio York Ilerald , May 
7th , 1871. 


The Accuracy of the War Office weather reports has 
made them a matter of daily business and family importance. 
It is not only our seagoing element that closely scans them 
nowadays. The fine ladies and the jaunty swells all anxiously 
study them in the morning before they decide upon a prome¬ 
nade, and scan them in the afternoons before they decide to 
go to the theatres or churches. Every morning the question 
of business men, after the usual inquiry relative to stocks, is, 
“ What is the weather going to be ?” and thereupon they 

consult the War Office reports in the Herald._ New York 

Ilerald , May 7th , 1871. 




109 


Value of the Weather Reports. 

We have heretofore called attention to the correctness of 
the weather reports furnished by the Government, and printed 
daily in the Press , and to the accuracy of the forecasts under 
the head of probabilities. It is a matter of interest and im¬ 
portance to know how far these reports are useful, and how 
much reliance is put on them by the classes of persons for 
whose benefit they are designed. So far as the reports at 
this station are concerned, they are likely to be of most 
service to lake navigators, vessel owners, and shipping mer¬ 
chants. At first sailors pooh-poohed at the idea, but Obser¬ 
ver Sergeant Hough tells us that now they come to him fre¬ 
quently before sailing to learn the probabilities of the weather, 
and they seem to place considerable reliance on the infor¬ 
mation they get. This is certainly an encouraging sign, and 
if the Government gets as favorable reports from other 
stations it must be gratified .—Oswego Daily Press. 


About the Weather Reports. 

We remarked last week that the weather reports at this 
station are assuming practical value, and that vessel masters 
are beginning to show their confidence by inquiring at the 
office about the weather prospects before sailing. Since that 
we learn incidentally from Observer Sergeant Hough—who, 
by the way, is a very competent and obliging officer—that 
this thing goes further than we had supposed. Painters, 
builders, and in truth almost all classes of out-door workers, 
come to him very frequently to ask what the weather will 
be, and seem to put faith in his forecasts. We consider this 
noteworthy, as showing the confidence a regular system of 
observations is inspiring in our own community.— Oswego 
Daily Press , May 22, 1871. 


\ 



no 


The United States Storm Signal Service Weather 
Charts and Reports. 

Many were inclined to regard the establishment of the 
Storm Signal Service as an unnecessary and useless measure. 
It was imperfectly comprehended how it could be of any ser¬ 
vice to the country at large. That telegraphic messages 
could travel faster than thieves, had been fully demonstrated. 
That they could also travel faster than storms, was generally 
believed; hut storms were generally supposed to be so 
erratic in their movements, that people were slow to believe 
that a report of a storm raging at Leavenworth, Kansas, 
could be of any practical benefit to New York; or that the 
knowledge of the state of the Aveather in Maine could be of 
any service to the inhabitants of Florida. 

The reports are, however, daily demonstrating their value. 
The usual courses of storms are becoming better and better 
defined; their average rates of progress are now practically 
determined; and the predictions based upon the study of 
the daily weather charts are generally correct. The weather 
reports now form one of the most interesting and valuable 
features of the daily newspapers, and are looked for with 
eagerness by all classes of intelligent readers. 

As an instance of the practical value of these reports, 
which, however, hardly needs any further testimony, we 
may cite the following from the Carson (Nevada) Register . 
That journal says, that “ on the 19th of April, a terrific storm 
originated in the Rocky Mountains, starting southward; but 
on reaching Corinne, Utah, it turned eastward. Its course, 
as it varied, was reported by telegraph all over the country. 
The signal stations on telegraph lines are all furnished with 
the weather instruments heretofore alluded to, so that when 
the storm raged north of Corinne, and was reported by tele¬ 
graph at Omaha, the report was sent no further, as the in¬ 
strument at that point gave no sign of its approach. The 
moment it turned east from Utah, the barometer at Omaha 
told, more surely than the telegraph, that the storm was com- 


Ill 


ing, and it was telegraphed on to the lakes, where the ship¬ 
ping was put in readiness to receive it forty-eight hours be¬ 
fore it arrived. Thus did this admirable system save life and 
property by its timely warning .”—Scientific American. 


Meteorological Reports. 

The United States Signal Department has placed in the 
Board of Trade rooms a weather chart, showing the meteoro¬ 
logical stations recently established throughout the country. 
The telegraphic report of observations taken synchronously 
at the stations at 7.28 A. M., (Buffalo time,) will be placed 
upon this map as soon as received; the weather at each 
station being indicated by appropriate symbols and figures 
readily understood, and by which the location and progress 
of storms can be observed at a glance. 

Masters of vessels especially are invited to avail them¬ 
selves of the facilities offered at the Board of Trade Room 
and at the Signal Office, for obtaining information that can¬ 
not fail to be of great interest and benefit to navigation. 
Free admission to the rooms of the Board of Trade is allowed 
to all shipmasters in active service. 

Alonzo Richmond, 
George S. Hazard, 

John H. Voijght, 

Meteorological Committee, Board of Trade. 

Buffalo Courier, June 9, 1871. 


The Weather Bureau at Washington. 

In a country like ours, where there is no considerable por¬ 
tion of it that has long periodic terms of constant, unvarying 
heat or cold, or of humidity or dryness, the one extreme 
succeeding the other, the weather is a subject of frequent 




112 


notice and conversational remark. This interest in the state 
of the weather where it is liable to fluctuations, is not to be 
wondered at. The great material interests of the larger 
portion of our people, involved in the various pursuits of 
agriculture and marine commerce, find in the weather their 
auxiliary or instrument, or their foe and injury, as the case 
may be, while all classes of men are both consciously or un¬ 
consciously affected by it, physically and mentally. The 
latter assertion is readily susceptible of philosophical expla¬ 
nation, hut it is so generally received as fact, that we need 
not proceed to a demonstration at this time. 

But if the state of the weather is for the time being a mat¬ 
ter that attracts much attention, the art or process of divining 
what it shall be days or weeks ahead, becomes one of greatly 
enlarged importance when it can he applied to solving the 
question for a country extensive as ours. With the aids that 
science has furnished in this direction, private persons have 
made prognostication with reasonable certainty of fulfillment 
over- a small district; but with the organized corps and ma¬ 
chinery which have been established by the general Govern¬ 
ment, the problem for the whole country itself has become 
a comparatively easy task. The difficulty of making calcu¬ 
lations for a large number of districts is in no sense to be 
estimated upon the basis of the extent bf country they may 
cover. The greater the area and the more numerous the 
points of local observation, the greater the certainty and the 
ease of making calculations for local districts, as well as for 
the whole land. 

We don’t know at whose suggestion the Administration 
went into this enterprise. We think neither the press or 
politicians ever started it. It has, however, been a wished- 
for institution among men of science practically acquainted 
with the barometer and other instruments used in meteoro¬ 
logical observations. To them the undertaking has always 
appeared feasible, and upon the plan as adopted at Washing¬ 
ton. It has been put in operation without any noise, and is 
quietly at work stretching its electric feelers all over the 


113 


country east of the Rocky Mountains, and penetrating them 
in a line across to the Pacific. There are at least forty places 
of observation beside the Rocky Mountain stations and those 
westward, and the notices made by the observers include, as 
we suppose, the range which science would dictate. These 
report to the grand centre at Washington, at the pleasure of 
the latter, and upon these aggregated reports it can be easily 
discerned where the areas of high and low pressure are, and 
thereupon determined the highly probable course of the 
wind which is to follow, and also as to the other features of 
the weather which are probable to prevail. The machinery 
of the organization is simple, and can not require a very 
large sum of money to run it. We endorse the enterprise 
as a highly useful one, and commend the Administration for 
prosecuting it. It is yet in its infancy, but able to accom¬ 
plish more work in an hour than all the weather astrologers 
ever wrought since time began with man. Its utility is not 
yet appreciated, because confidence in it has not been fully 
established. That it will soon be generally consulted, we 
have no doubt, nor will any one who thoroughly understands 
the means used and the principles which govern and guide 
those means. 

We shall resume the subject, and endeavor to explain in 
our next the agencies employed in operating the institution. 
—New York Times , June 15 th, 1871. 


The Signal Bureau. 

It is under this head that the weather reports are daily 
sent from Washington, the centre of the system of observa¬ 
tions recently instituted by the Government. We briefly 
adverted to the subject yesterday, and to-day renew our con¬ 
gratulations to the country upon the adoption of the enter¬ 
prise, and our thanks to the Administration for boldly un¬ 
dertaking it, since it requires no little courage to take a step 
15 



114 


so much in advance of the action of all other governments, 
in bringing to practical subservience to popular behoof and 
comfort, the revelations of science and the appliances of art. 

The state of the weather depends upon the conditions of 
the atmosphere, which include its comparative weight, 
moisture, (tension of vapor included,) temperature, and de¬ 
gree and course of motion. The weight is determined by 
the barometer, the principal instrument used everywhere to 
ascertain the probabilities in respect to coming weather. It 
simply weighs a column of air immediately above the place 
of observation, but inasmuch as the weight of the column at 
the level of the sea has been ascertained to be equal, in ordi¬ 
nary fair weather, to that of a column of mercury thirty 
inches in height, (or a column of water about thirty-four 
feet,) any deviations from that height, (except from altitude 
above the sea, which sinks the column about .008 inch for 
every ten feet of elevation above tide-water,) indicates that 
the air is not in a state of equilibrium. It is, therefore, the 
flow of air from one quarter to another, that causes the fall 
of the mercurial column at the former, and a subsequent 
flow of air from some quarter to the former, that causes the 
rise. 

The atmosphere is undoubtedly neyer at rest all over the 
globe, nor any considerable portion of it. TTiis country is 
mostly included in the dominion of the “ variable winds,” 
and hence the atmosphere covering it is generally in motion. 
It is this continual motion of the air that causes the winds, 
which are the mainsprings of the weather, and it is the baro¬ 
meter that determines how to foretell them. By careful 
observation of the effects of the varying indications of the 
barometer, something of a system for prognostication of the 
weather has been adopted generally as correct. Some of the 
rules are absolutely certain; as for instance, when there is a 
fall of the mercury of an inch in half a day, tempestuous 
weather will follow; or when there is a fall of a half inch in 
an hour, a hurricane will come. There are many other rules 
deduced from observation and experience, that are reason- 


115 


ably certain of fulfillment. The slow and steady sinking of 
the mercury for the term of a week or more to the extent of 
an inch, foretells a long rain. On the contrary, a slow rise 
of the mercury, (as we have observed it on one occasion.) 
such as attaining “ Fair ” point, at the steady progress of a 
half inch in three weeks, will be followed by at least that 
amount of quiet, dry weather. In short, there are rules by 
which the experienced observer can, in nine cases out of ten, 
foretell gales, rains, snows, frosts and thaws. But these rules 
are very unsafe in the hands of a tyro, as there is sometimes 
a very wide “margin” for conjecture; and a glance ahead, 
to be reliable, requires due allowance for the demonstration 
of the barometer quite a while in the past. At some other 
time we will furnish a set of hints on this subject of observa¬ 
tion and prognostication. 

We are not advised as to the list of instruments employed 
by the Signal Bureau, but their tables, as published in some 
of the New York dailies, show that, beside the barometer, 
the thermometer and anemometer must be used. The ther¬ 
mometer measures the heat for two purposes—one for ascer¬ 
taining the temperature of the locality, and the other for a 
basis to correct to a common standard the barometrical table 
figures. The anemometer measures the force or velocity of 
the wind. We don’t know whether or not the hygrometer 
and psychrometer are used. The first measures the moisture 
of the air, and the latter the tension of that moisture. These 
are important aids in determining the probabilities as to rain 
or drought, and if not now used, doubtless soon will be.— 
New York Times , June 16, 1871. 


Weatlier Predictions. 

The predictions of the weather, which regularly appear as 
they are transmitted from the “ Office of the Chief Signal 
Officer in Washington,” must have attracted public atten- 



116 


tion by the uniformity of their fulfillment. The relation 
between the probabilities and the future facts indicated has 
been especially remarkable within the last few days, and 
must have taught those who observed it closely the value of 
consulting the meteorological reports which are regularly 
published in both morning and evening journals, before un¬ 
dertaking a journey which may involve exposure to bad 
weather. In this season of pic-nics and similar excursions, 
the Signal Officer’s reports, viewed only as aids to pleasure- 
seekers, are of great advantage. The benefits they must 
confer on navigators either of the sea or the lakes cannot but 
be regarded as inestimable. So far, we must confess that 
these reports have more than fulfilled the expectations of 
meteorologists, and will doubtless result, before manv years 
pass, in establishing exact rules for foretelling all future at¬ 
mospheric changes .—New York Daily News , June 26, 1871. 


Usefulness Demonstrated. 

It is a proof of the practical value of the reports of the 
Weather Signal Service published in the daily papers, that 
since its recent establishment, property of much greater 
value than the whole cost of the service has been saved by 
it. The warning given of the coming of a recent great storm 
on the lakes saved property worth over a million dollars. 
The officers on the lakes can now confidently predict the 
coming and violence of a storm from twelve to twenty-four 
hours in advance .—New York University Monthly , June , 1870. 


The American Agriculturist was one of the earliest advo¬ 
cates of the plan for communicating by telegraph the state 
of the weather at different points of the continent. We were 
fully satisfied of its importance to the farmers of the coun- 




117 


try. And we cannot but rejoice that the Government is 
now furnishing daily reports to the papers. Probably a still 
more efficient system will, in time, be inaugurated by the 
use of signal guns. But even now, those farmers who take 
a morning paper can receive timely warning of the approach 
of a storm. We believe, however, that it would be well to 
tell us what the “ probabilities ” are for two or three days in 
advance. Farmers have not time to study out this matter 
every day for themselves, and we believe they would cheer¬ 
fully excuse a good many mistakes if the meteorologist 
would give us his opinion of what the weather is likely to be 
for two or three days in advance. We do not expect cer¬ 
tainties, but would like to know the probabilities. And it 
is nearly as important for us to know that the indications 
are favorable for settled weather as to know that a storm is 
approaching. No sensible farmer will leave his hay out any 
longer than he can help. If it is ready, he will draw it in 
whether a storm is approaching or not. What he most 
needs to know is whether he had better cut his grass to-day 
or wait until to-morrow. After it is cut the meteorologist 
can help him but little. 

We are very differently situated in this respect from the 
English farmer. He does not ask when he shall cut his 
grass, but when he shall stir it. He often cuts in a rain, 
thinking that by the time he is through cutting the rain may 
be over, and he shall have fair weather to make the hay. As 
long as the weather is damp or rainy the fresh cut grass will 
not be injured in the swath, but after it is stirred and partly 
cured then rain or dew is very injurious. But with us grass 
cures so rapidly that we cannot allow it to lie in the swath 
or spread out on the ground. When it is cut we must attend 
to it, dry it as rapidly as possible, and get it into cock. 
After it is in cock, it is sometimes a question with us, as it 
is in England, whether we had better open the cocks or let 
them remain as they are. It is at this point that we want 
to know what the weather is going to be for a few hours in 
advance. If, by opening the cocks, we can get the hay dry, 


118 


and there is time to draw it in, it is best to open them; but 
if the weather is uncertain and the hay is well cocked, it is 
better not to disturb it .—American Agriculturist , July , 1871. 


Weather Predictions. 

“ What is the use of the weather bulletins ?” is a question 
not unfrequently asked in these uncertain days by persons 
who conceive that the chief object of the Signal Service reports 
is to inform them when to go to market with an umbrella, or 
when to accept an invitation to a pic-nic or a Sunday school 
excursion. The Yew York Times says the real purpose of 
the Bureau is to explain, as accurately as possible, the pro¬ 
gress and course of such storms as are likely to threaten 
vessels and impede navigation. Most of these are to be pre¬ 
dicted both as to their extent and direction. All storms 
originating in large movements of the upper air, and ex¬ 
tending over great areas, can be thus watched and pointed 
out a little in advance of their arrival. There are storms 
other than those dangerous to ships, but which cannot yet 
be foretold, because, though violent, they extend only over 
a limited area, and last but a short time. 

There are also other storms not very violent, but of which 
it is desirable to have forewarning. They are often purely 
local. Concerning this class, also, the War Department 
does not yet undertake to give knowledge. From its last 
publication we infer, however, that it is progressing rapidly 
toward an attempt to do even this. In proportion as the 
officers in charge receive more minute information, and in 
proportion as they discover the general laws and local con¬ 
ditions in accordance with which their information is to be 
interpreted, they will be able to give us more and better pro¬ 
phecies. They are doing a noble and excellent work, and 
one by which the entire community is benefited more than 
they at present realize. 



119 


The practical benefits of the Government Signal System 
were lately demonstrated. A terrific storm originated in 
the Rocky Mountains, started southward, hut on reaching 
Corinne, Utah, turned eastward. Its course, as it varied, 
was reported by telegraph all over the country. The signal 
stations on telegraph lines are all furnished with the weather 
instruments heretofore alluded to, so that when the storm 
raged north of Corinne, and was reported at Omaha, the 
report was sent no further, as the instrument at that point 
gave no sign of its approach. The moment it turned east 
from Utah the barometer at Omaha told more surely than 
the telegraph that the storm was coming, and it was tele¬ 
graphed on to the lakes, where the shipping was put in order 
to receive it forty-eight hours before it arrived. Thus did 
this admirable system save life and property by its timely 
warning.— Union and American , August 11, 1871. 


Weather Reports. 

The elaborate description of the Signal Bureau at Wash¬ 
ington, and explanation of the system of weather reports and 
storm forecasts which we publish this morning, will be read 
with very general interest. Ho scientific service which the 
Government has undertaken in many years has been so uni¬ 
versally approved or so instantly successful as the labor per¬ 
formed in this bureau of the War Department, by General 
Myer, Professor Abbe, and their assistants. It is of the 
greatest importance to science from many points of view; 
but it is in its relation to the business of everyday life, to the 
practical problems of the farm and the seashore, and the out 
of door amusements of common place gentlemen and ladies, 
that it has naturally attracted most of the attention of the 
public. 

Foretelling the weather, when it was not the shrewd guess¬ 
ing of seamen and keen-eyed farmers, used to be a pseudo art, 
something like astrology or alchemy, and the almanac maker 



120 


who wrote across a whole column of his calendar “ Expect 
— rain — about — this — time,” ranked no higher in the 
estimation of sensible people than the gipsy who told 
one’s fortune with a pack of cards. But we have changed 
all that. By the best of all tests—that of actual trial—we 
have proved that the path of a storm can be foretold with 
almost mathematical accuracy. We can watch its beginning, 
and by a careful study of the atmospheric phenomena at 
various points we can decide what course it will take, and 
flash the prediction by telegraph to all quarters of the coun¬ 
try. This is the work which, with much else that is highly 
important to meteorology, the Signal Bureau is now doing 
in Washington. The value of such services to commerce and 
to agriculture can hardly be over estimated, and the appre¬ 
ciation in which they are held by the public is sufficiently 
evinced by the eagerness with which the daily reports are 
read and the confidence which they always inspire.— N. Y. 
Tribune . 


Signal Bureau at Washington—Study of the 
Weather. 

A day or two ago we published a short article on this sub¬ 
ject, calling attention to its importance as affecting trade and 
navigation, and showing some of the practical benefits to 
be derived from this important Department of our Govern¬ 
ment. 

As the subject is one of considerable interest, both to the 
practical and scientific man, we propose in this article to go 
more into details, and advert to the history of and some of 
the methods used by this Department. This branch of the 
public service has been organized but little more than a year 
into a separate department, but observations have been taken 
in the several States for the benefit of the Agricultural Bureau 
for many years. 



121 


Nearly two centuries and a half ago Lord Bacon made the 
observation that the winds generally follow the course of the 
sun, that is, from east to south, and rarely shifted contrary 
to the course of that luminary. In this he laid the founda¬ 
tion of the great law of atmospheric gyration, which was 
afterwards demonstrated by Ferrel and Dove. Great in¬ 
terest has been awakened in, and increased attention given 
to the study of meteorology by the labors of these distin¬ 
guished scientists. Mr. W. C. Redfield, who, in addition to 
the establishment of the fact that storms have a gyratory 
motion, was a close student of all atmospherical phenomena, 
first applied the telegraph to the signaling of storms. Prof. 
Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute, urged upon Congress 
the policy of putting the suggestion of Mr. Redfield into 
execution, so as to have coming storms announced, and 
thereby be able to protect shipping from their destructive 
effects. He obtained a liberal appropriation, and out of this 
has grown the Weather Bureau. 

This Signal or Weather Bureau, by a combination of tele¬ 
graphic currents, takes synchronously the observations of 
the weather at seventy select points in the United States, 
and these observations are published in all the leading papers 
in the country. There are taken the height of the barome¬ 
ter and thermometer, the direction of the wind and its velo¬ 
city, the relative humidity of the air and the state of the 
weather at each of these stations. From these data a map 
is constructed, and the probabilities of the weather for the 
next twenty-four hours are predicted. The experience dur¬ 
ing the past year shows that these conjectures, based upon 
immutable laws, await but the developments of time and a 
larger accumulation of facts to make them in all essential par¬ 
ticulars as accurate as the foretelling of the rising and setting 
of the sun, the occulations of Venus, or the time of an eclipse 
of the sun or moon. 

In order that our readers may understand the philosophy 
and principles upon which these conjectures are founded, we 
premise that in all countries during certain seasons there are 

16 


122 


general winds, dependant upon the rotary motion of the 
earth, and upon uniform and fixed meteorological laws, 
varying with regularity as the seasons change. These are 
to he carefully distinguished from local winds, which result 
from the local pressure of the atmosphere, and are influenced 
by the elevation or depression of the locality, the quantity 
of humidity in the atmosphere, by local obstructions, and 
several other minor causes not necessary here to mention. 
Or to make the matter plainer, we are to look upon the 
general winds as constant forces acting regularly, while the 
local winds are variable and inconstant, sometimes acting in 
conjunction with, and sometimes in opposition to, the regular 
aerial currents. Now the regular winds, as modified by 
their local currents, will give the probable course of the wind 
at any given time. 

To illustrate the methods used: The normal height of 
the barometer on the Atlantic coast is 30.00 inches. If, then, 
observations are taken at two points and the pressure is found 
to be 29.95 and 30.05, then the presumption is that midway 
between these points the barometer stands at 30.00. Now, 
by connecting all these points of equal pressure, there may 
be seen the narrow band over which the barometric pressure 
is uniform. After having drawn the normal line of 30.00 
inches, similar lines may be drawn, showing the line of equal 
pressure when the barometer stands at 29.90, 29.80, etc. 
Passing to the other side of the normal line, the points where 
the barometer stands at 30.10, 30.20, etc., may be united, 
and so on for all the points of equal pressures. These lines 
are called isobarometric lines. Sometimes they inclose a 
central area, in which the pressure grows less and less to 
the centre. The isobarometric lines then drawn form con¬ 
centric circles. Now, within areas of this character, where 
the atmosphere must, in accordance with known mechanical 
laws, be pushing from the regions of higher to those of lower 
pressure, occur cyclones, tornadoes and thunder storms. If, 
on the other hand, the centre is found to be of highest pres¬ 
sure, the wind, in obedience to the same law of mechanics, 


123 


will blow outwardly, or from the centre, deflected, of course, 
by those general laws arising from the revolution of the 
earth about its axis, which always turn it to the right as it 
moves forward. When there are no well-marked central 
areas, the winds, by uniting with the lines of equal pressure, 
indicate some area beyond the limits of observation. In the 
summer, for instance, the south and southeast winds indicate 
the low pressure that prevails in the Missouri Valley. When 
the pressure over a large area is uniform, then minor local 
influences sometimes affect the winds—such as temperature 
and humidity. 

How if we add to the barometrical observations the temper¬ 
ature of a particular place with the isothermal lines and the 
isobarometric lines, shown on a map, giving in one connected 
view the whole state of the atmosphere, with the local and 
general influences, any one may readily infer what will be the 
probable state of the weather for the ensuing twenty-four 
hours, especially if added to this is another element, viz.: the 
amount of humidity that prevails, and the kinds and changes 
of the clouds. These last indicate the relative temperature, 
moisture and pressure, existing in the upper air. The ascent 
of warm air makes cumulus clouds. They disappear when 
not fed by these currents. The cirrus clouds, which are 
known by their hairy, bushlike appearance and feathery 
form with “ wisps of diverging fibre,” are always seen in the 
more elevated regions of the atmosphere, and their vapor is 
supposed to exist in snowy flakes. How the union of these 
clouds, or of two layers of different kinds, always takes 
place when extended rain storms prevail. It will be readily 
seen, that from the phenomena of their formation, these 
clouds must differ as widely in temperature as in form, and 
so, when united, must be productive of excessive rains. 
The reason is that a warm and a cold current of air must be 
united before there can be set free the moisture in either. 
As the capacity of the atmosphere for retaining moisture 
diminishes more rapidly than the temperature, so when there 
is a union of two clouds differing in temperature, the 


124 


capacity of the whole is diminished, and the excess of mois¬ 
ture is set free in particles which coalesce and form rain 
drops. 

We have thus gone somewhat into details in order to give 
a correct conception of the immense value to the country of 
these observations, and to give some idea also to the un¬ 
scientific reader of how these facts are utilized. Every class 
in the community has a direct and personal interest in the 
investigation of these natural laws. The farmer may in a 
few years, by inspecting the observations of the Weather 
Bureau, tell whether it would be better to reap his wheat, 
plow his land, or sow his seed. Sailors will be admonished 
to prepare their ships for storms, or to spread their clouds 
of canvass to the breeze, and so skim merrily and swiftly, 
with swelling sails on their voyage, fearless of rising storms. 
And it is also more than probable that if these investigations 
and observations are extended through a long series of years, 
a moderately correct calculation may be made as to the kind 
of weather which will predominate through any given year. 
Prof. Stewart, of Montgomery county, Tennessee, by care¬ 
fully noting the quantity of rain which has fallen during the 
past twenty years, has constructed a pluviometrical curve, 
which, he thinks, is beginning, after a series of years, to re¬ 
peat itself. If this is true, and the equation for the curve is 
found, it will be an easy matter for any neighborhood, after 
ascertaining the curve, suitable for that particular spot, to 
tell the amount of rain that will fall for a certain year in that 
neighborhood. Let us hope that the number of observers 
in meteorology will be largely increased, so that its grand 
results may be made the sooner to minister to the wants and 
to conduce to the happiness of the human race, and be a 
source of wealth, strength and greatness to the country.— 
Union and American , August 12, 1871. 


125 


The Cyclone and its Lesson. 

On the 21st of August a terrific hurricane passed over the 
Islands of St. Thomas and St. Kitts, destroying almost every 
house, killing from a hundred to a hundred and fifty of the 
inhabitants, and rendering six thousand people homeless 
and destitute. During the time that the storm occupied in 
passing over these islands, the wind came from five direc¬ 
tions, in the following order: The gale first broke from the 
east and soon shifted to northesat; at noon it was blowing 
from the north; in the afternoon it came from the north¬ 
west ; at six o’clock it swept over the island from the south, 
and in the evening it had passed. These observations show 
that this storm, having an interior rotary motion, originated 
in that great manufactory of hurricanes, the Caribbean Sea, 
between the north coast of South America and Santo Do¬ 
mingo, and that it was moving in a northeasterly direction 
at the time it first broke upon St. Thomas. This direction 
was maintained until between five and six o’clock in the 
afternoon. It then turned to the northwest, and when last 
observed at St. Thomas was moving directly for the coast of 
Florida, distant twelve hundred miles in a direct line. 

Cyclones are impelled forward by the trade-winds in 
which they originate. The velocity of these winds is from 
fifteen to twenty-five miles an hour. Supposing this cyclone 
to move at the average rate, twenty miles an hour, it ought 
to reach the coast of Florida in sixty hours after leaving St. 
Thomas, or, allowing one hour for difference of time, at 
seven o’clock on the morning of August 24th. At the time 
the Weather Bureau report was made at eight o’clock A. M., 
August 24th, the barometer was rapidly falling at the Florida 
stations, and the indications of great atmospheric disturbance 
were so great that Prof. Abbe, the meteorologist, announced 
the probable existence of a cyclone to the east of Florida. 
In a short time it reached the coast, and carried such des¬ 
truction with it that the telegraphic lines were down when 
the time came to make the next report, and no news was 


126 


received from the Florida stations. Its course after it struck 
the land is well known to those wdio have studied the 
weather reports of the past ten days. 

These facts are full of important suggestions as to the 
future possibilities of the Weather Bureau. Had the United 
States been connected by telegraph with St. Thomas and 
other West India islands, and had there been observer sta¬ 
tions at various points from Florida to St. Thomas (both of 
which will be accomplished facts within the next five years,) 
the approach of this terrible cyclone might have been an¬ 
nounced along our coast and in every port on our eastern 
seaboard sixty K hours before its arrival. This knowledge 
might not have enabled merchants, planters, and railroad 
men to save their property from injury, though a timely 
warning would have caused them to prepare for the storm, 
and their loss would have been much less than it now is. 
We can as yet make no estimate of the damage to shipping 
along the coast of Florida by the hurricane, but that it must 
have been immense is evident from the fact that the Collec¬ 
tor of the Port of Jacksonville has telegraphed to the Secre¬ 
tary of the Treasury at Washington for permission to feed 
the destitute, shipwrecked sailors who have arrived in that 
port in great numbers, and furnish them with transporta¬ 
tion to Savannah. IIow many of them may not have been 
within the reach of warning signals, could they have been 
given during the sixty hours that the cyclone was moving 
from St. Thomas to the coast of Florida ?—New York Daily 
Tribune , September 2, 1871. 


The prognostications of the Weather Bureau have been 
so accurately verified by the meteorological phenomena of 
the past fortnight, that there can no longer be any doubt as 
to their correctness and value. Two great cyclones, both of 
which made great havoc, were announced in advance of any 



127 


noticeable indications of atmospheric disturbance, and their 
routes were clearly and correctly indicated. On the 17th 
ult. it was telegraphed over the United States that a great 
storm was raging between the Bahamas and Florida coast, 
and that its path was from Florida northwest across the 
country, with easterly winds and rain. On the 19th ult. it 
was further announced that the centre of the cyclone would 
probably keep a little east of the immediate coast line, and 
be off Hatteras on the following morning. The storm 
reached Savannah on the morning of the 20th, and as it 
progressed it took the course and assumed all the character¬ 
istics predicted for it. The Savannah Republican, in its ac¬ 
count of the effects of the storm, stated that the predictions 
of the Weather Bureau, by putting the people on their guard, 
had saved not only much property which would otherwise 
have been destroyed, but a great many lives as well. Another 
cyclone was predicted the 24th ult., and its course marked 
out, and the prediction was fully verified by the result. The 
warnings in both cases were given long enough in advance 
to be available for mariners, enabling them to make prepa¬ 
rations which would not otherwise have been considered 
necessary. The system is not yet perfected, but when ar¬ 
rangements are completed for communicating the results of 
observations in the West Indies, where most of the great 
storms reaching this coast originate, much more exact and 
timely warnings of weather changes may be expected. The 
results already accomplished by the Bureau have fully in¬ 
dicated the wisdom of its establishment, and the service 
which it has rendered within the past fortnight has, doubt¬ 
less, saved enough property to more than cover the expenses 
of its maintenance from the first .—Oswego Daily Press , Sep¬ 
tember 8, 1871. 


* 


128 


The Weather Reports—Their Use to Farmers, &c. 

Important arrangements have recently been made for ex¬ 
tending the benefit of the daily weather reports to farmers 
and agricultural societies. The law instituting the Meteoro¬ 
logical Bureau makes it imperative on the Chief Signal 
Officer merely to furnish “ notice of the approach and force 
of storms on the northern lakes and seacoast,” and its intent 
is limited for “ the benefit of commerce,” just as is the simi¬ 
lar bureau, established in 1861, in England, under the super¬ 
vision of Admiral' Fitzroy. Indeed, all institutions estab¬ 
lished for the pul-pose of gaining weather intelligence in 
Europe were designed to give timely premonitions and fore¬ 
casts of impending or approaching gales likely to affect the 
shipping or sea-going community. 

Like everything else, however, that is of a truly scientific 
origin and proceeds upon accurate observations of nature in 
the lofty spirit of the Baconian philosophy of induction, the 
enterprise of which we speak has its manifold benefits and 
blessings. While, directly, the Weather Bureau is operated 
in the interest of the imperilled mariner, it is in future, as 
far as its means justify, to cooperate with agricultural and 
horticultural societies, many of which have already solicited 
such cooperation from General Myer, and have expressed 
their high appreciation of the naked information which the 
Signal Office, through the press, twice every day, spreads 
broadcast over the whole country. 

The agency of man in altering the physical conditions of 
any part of the globle on which he sojourns has never till 
now been at all understood. Few would suppose that the 
Valley of the Nile, through immemorial ages of the past 
doomed to eternal drought and sterility but for the swellings 
of its noble river, should, by human agency, be made "to 
arrest the passing cloud and rob it of its moisture and fat¬ 
ness. Little did the pioneers of the far west dream that the 
felling of their forests and the drainage of their swampy 
prairies would, in time, so seriously reduce their mean 


129 


animal rainfall that, in some regions, at this season, they 
must drive their cattle hundreds of miles to water, and tarry 
at the water course till the eqinoctial rains. Steadily, how¬ 
ever, the climatic character of vast sections of the continent 
is undergoing a most serious change. At some future time 
we shall call attention to these grave changes, which will, 
by their silent and unnoticed, but yet potential, agencies, 
revolutionize the labor and industries of some of our States, 
and even, perhaps, alter the social complexion of entire por¬ 
tions of the country. But it is enough at present, in this 
connection, to point out the splendid field of usefulness 
which lies before our Meteorological Bureau in the investi¬ 
gation of these climatic phenomena, upon which every intel¬ 
ligent man, but especially the intelligent farmer, must anxi¬ 
ously fasten his attention. 

It often happens that the indirect advantages which follow 
upon human achievements and labors exceed those that are 
immediate and direct. The English mechanic who first 
applied steam to pumping water from the coal mine might 
not have thought that his application would subserve the 
more magnificent and gigantic purpose of driving the mon¬ 
ster steamship through the ocean. The poor French pris¬ 
oner who, in 1792, first contrived a telegraphic code for con¬ 
versing with those outside his prison wall probably did not 
conjecture that upon the discovery of the laws of electricity 
his device would become of world-wide and all-embracing 
importance. If the Signal Office had no other mission to 
fulfil, and should its valuable and almost invariably correct 
forecast cease, the sphere of usefulness left it in learning and 
publishing the great climatic peculiarities of our vast country 
for the benefit of agriculture would alone far more than pay 
for double its cost and labor. 

The Chief Signal Officer has shown himself glad to 
welcome the applications of all agricultural societies for his 
cooperation in furnishing both timely storm warnings and 
in amassing the largest possible fund of exact weather statis¬ 
tics. Let his efforts be seconded and sustained throughout 
the country .—New York Herald. 


130 


Triumphs of Science—The Late Cyclones. 

Within the last fortnight we have had two striking and 
brilliant triumphs of science. The fearful cyclone which 
developed itself fully, near Savannah, on the evening of the 
20th inst., was detected and preannounced at thirty-five min¬ 
utes past seven o’clock on the morning of the 17th, as then 
existing “ between the Bahamas and Georgia.” This an¬ 
nouncement from the Office of the Chief Signal Officer took 
place nearly three entire days before the tropic-born mon¬ 
ster fell upon the Georgia coast in all its fury. On the morn¬ 
ing of the 18th, the announced path of “ the cyclone in 
Florida” was “to the northwestward into Georgia, with 
easterly winds and rain,” and later in the day this telegram 
was reaffirmed by the Signal Officer. On the 19th it was 
added at an early hour, by telegraph, “ The centre of the 
cyclone will probably keep a short distance east of the im¬ 
mediate coast line, and be off Cape Hatteras to-morrow 
morning.” These storm warnings, issued to all the harbors 
interested, between forty-eight and seventy-two hours in ad¬ 
vance of the threatened hurricane, it seems by our latest re¬ 
ports, were verified with fatal punctuality. The Herald has 
already given in full the statement of the Savannah Republi¬ 
can, that on the 20th the weather report of the Signal Bureau 
had been singularly correct, and that in this instance “ the 
correct predictions of the Bureau have saved a great many 
lives and an immense amount of property.” The damage 
by the storm in Savannah was estimated at not much less 
than one hundred thousand dollars. The steamship Lodona, 
of Hew York, we already know, was the victim of its vio¬ 
lence, and our telegraphic columns report many vessels dis¬ 
abled. 

On the morning of the 24th a second cyclone, which has 
but just died away, was discovered and reported, which in 
forty-eight hours verified the probabilities of the Signal 
Office in a fierce visitation of the South Atlantic coast. As 
predicted, its track lay “more to the west than that of the 


131 


cyclone of the 18th instant.” The telegrams from Georgia 
and Tennessee show that it has been a serious and severe 
storm. Thus, in the space of a few days, we have had the 
strongest evidence of the wisdom and ability of our national 
Storm Signal system. The wires bring us information that 
the West India and Panama telegraph cable has just been 
successfully laid to the islands of St. Lucia and Barbados. 
These latter are in the very centre of that region where the 
cyclone and hurricane are generated, and by weather tele¬ 
grams from these islands daily, (which the energetic Chief 
of the Signal Corps will doubtless soon obtain,) we shall he 
advised of the approaching tempest before it has fairly 
started on its destructive course.—A. Y. Ilerald , August 30, 
1871. 


A System of International Weather Reports. 

The popular interest and confidence in our Weather 
Bureau continues to increase. At a recent rheeting of the 
Memphis Agricultural and Mechanical Society, a movement 
was set on foot for internationalizing our weather and storm 
signal system. The object of the movers in this enterprise, 
who quote the conference which met at Brussels, in 1853, (as 
recommending a universal and systematic plan of observa¬ 
tions,) is to utilize weather reports from all parts of the 
world for agricultural purposes, and thus obtain the most 
accurate and useful forecasts of crops and all statistics needed 
by farmers and merchants. 

The idea is a good one, if practicable, but not a new sug¬ 
gestion. The Herald some time ago pointed out how the 
present information daily issued from the Signal Office may 
be used by farmers and horticulturists; and the Chief Signal 
Officer issued a circular on this subject some months ago. 
This officer has already taken steps to unite the West India 
reports with ours, just as those of Canada have been united 



132 


for some time; he has also stated his purpose, as far and as 
fast as ocean cables are laid, to employ them for weather 
telegrams whenever the information they can bring will be 
practically useful. When the proposed Pacific cable is com¬ 
pleted the intelligence from the. Sandwich Islands will be of 
great value. The importance of information from all parts 
of the atmosphere cannot be exaggerated, if we regard the 
great aerial ocean as we regard the aqueous ocean, one mass, 
all of whose parts move together, and, although separated, 
united, 

Distinct as the billows, yet one as the sea. 

New York Herald , Oct. 5, 1871. 


The notion that the Government of the United States 
could do nothing but protect our lives and our liberties, is one 
that dates back a long time. What would Thomas Jeffer¬ 
son, its most passionate advocate, say to the spectacle of a 
hundred and twenty-three men employed by the War De¬ 
partment in watching the signs of the weather at twenty-four 
stations, all over the country, and causing to be published 
in less than a year some sixteen million copies of the infer¬ 
ences made from their telegraphic reports? Would he not 
think that the “ world was governed too much, ” and long 
for the time when his own moderate attainments in science 
secured him an acknowledged notoriety, and when, starting 
from Monticello for Washington with his coachman, he 
needed no “ synopsis of probabilities ” from the War De¬ 
partment to assure him of days of muddy journeying ? The 
Signal Bureau, which is a most striking instance of the 
capacity of the National Government for beneficient aetion, 
quite out of range of Jeffersonian ideas, is being gradually 
extended, and will soon embrace in its reports the rise and 
fall of the Western rivers—something which it is believed 
will result in great advantage to property owners and owmers 
of freight along their courses.— New York Times , Nonember 
23, 1871. 



133 


Weather wise. 

The Storm Signal Bureau has a right to congratulate 
itself on its usefulness. The compliment which somebody 
pays to it at Washington in yesterday’s despatches is all de¬ 
served. Here in New York the danger signals went up the 
staffs on the top of the Equitable Insurance building, by 
10 A. M., of Tuesday, and the gale did not burst upon us till 
evening. Here were nearly eight hours while daylight 
lasted, during which shippers were warned not to leave 
port, and those who heeded the caution escaped wreck and 
trouble. There are now twenty signal stations along the 
Atlantic coast and the lakes, and at most of these the warn¬ 
ing was displayed from five to fifteen hours ahead of the 
tempest. The Storm Signal system is new, though it works 
as well as if it were old, and the people have not become 
used to it. But once let it be realized that the tremendous 
blow on Tuesday night was known to he approaching nearly 
half a day in advance, and the eyes of sailors in this harbor 
will be turned more often and confidently to the towering 
roof of the Equitable building to see what omens are there 
hung out. This Bureau is a thoroughly good thing, and 
should not pinched by mean appropriations .—Journal of Com¬ 
merce, November 18, 1871. 


The Storm Signals are working admirably, but a large 
number of people are unable to interpret their meaning. 
Would it not be well for the Government to have a standing 
advertisement in some of the principal papers, explaining 
the meaning of different signals ? It would not take long 
for our intelligent people to become as familiar with these 
storms signals as they are with their A, B, C’s .—New York 
Herald ,, November 18, 1871. 



134 


The Cautionary Signals. 

The success of the system of Storm Signals adopted by the 
Government has been gratifying beyond expectation. Under 
the energetic and able management of General Myer, the 
Chief Signal Officer, and his assistants, the present system is 
rapidly expanding and improving. To show of what great 
value it can be made, it may be stated, that yesterday morn¬ 
ing the Cautionary Signals were flying in the city, although 
to the ordinary observer every sign was favorable for pleasant 
weather. The day was clear and beautiful, and the .sky was 
almost cloudless. See the contrast to-day in the leaden skies, 
drizzling rain and snow, and generally unforeboding state 
of things. Whoever watches these signals may lay plans for 
the next day with some degree of confidence. It is claimed 
that sixty-nine per cent, of the published probabilities have 
been verified .—Buffalo Commercial Advertiser , Dec. 4, 1871. 


Board of Trade Rooms, 
Oswego , N. Y ., March 22, 1871. 

Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 

Sir: Our attention has just been called by the President 
of our Board to the fact that, owing to the inadvertence of the 
Secretary of the Board of Trade, your letter addressed to the 
Board is as yet unacknowledged, and the action of the Board 
with reference thereto not yet made known. 

We beg leave now to acknowledge the due receipt of your 
valuable communication, and to apologize for the delay 
which has occurred. With reference to your communica¬ 
tion, the following proceedings were had: 

At a meeting held October 6th, 1870, J. K. Post, Esq., 
President, in the chair, a communication from Gen. Myer, 



135 


Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., was read, advising the Board, 
Oswego had been selected as one of the stations, and solicit¬ 
ing the cooperation of the Board. 

The Board immediately, by a resolution, empowered the 
chair to appoint a committee who should take charge of the 
subject and correspond thereon with the Chief Signal Officer, 
should occasion require. 

The chair appointed J. L. McWhorter, A. H. Failing and 
W. J. Malcolm, such committee. 

Supposing that you had been advised of the action of the 
Board, and having when appointed but little knowledge of 
the subject, the committee did not propose to enter into any 
correspondence until after the opening of the lakes, and some 
experience in the working of the system had been had. 
But as the matter now stands, the committee beg leave to 
state that the establishment of the Signal Station at Oswego, 
and the results of the observations have, of course, been 
officially reported to you by Observer Sergeant Hough. 

The committee take great pleasure in commending the 
official action, as far as within their knowledge, of Sergeant 
Hough, and doubt not that he will prove a valuable officer 
to the department. His duties are quite arduous, and he 
discharges them promptly, and efficiently. 

The reports, we presume, are regularly received, and up 
to March 4, made to our Board, and posted in its rooms. 
The general public, as well as our members, take great 
interest in them. 

Since March 4, no reports have been posted, owing, we 
suppose, to difficulties with the telegraph company. 

After the season of navigation commences, we doubt not 
the observations will have great value to all parties inter¬ 
ested in lake commerce. 

The report now , as heretofore, posted in our rooms, is the 
report taken at 7.30 A. M., only. If we could have the 
reports for the 24 hours preceding, or a resume of them, 
we think they would be of much more importance to navi- 


136 


gating interests. A single report gives no basis upon which 
to form an opinion as to coming weather. 

We also think it would be a great improvement if each 
station was provided with self-registering thermometers, so 
that the minimum and maximum of heat for each 24 hours 
could be reported, and also the general direction and force 
of wind, and the gross rain and snow fall. 

If these results, and also a memorandum of what weather, 
(based on the observations for the preceding 24 hours) might 
be expected the next 12 or 24 hours, could be posted at noon 
each day in our rooms, we think a great favor and benefit 
would be conferred on the commercial public, and one which 
would be very generally appreciated. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

Jno. L. McWhorter, 

Chairman of Committee. 


Yew York, 22 d May , 1871. 

Bvt, Brig. Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A. 

Dear Sir: Your esteemed communication, addressed on 
the 20th, through the Chamber of Commerce, to Messrs. 
Charles G. Curtis, J. D. Jones, M. Maury, and George W. 
Dow, has been handed to me for a reply. 

Our committee is constituted, as at first, George W. Dow, 
Mathew Maury, and John D. Jones—each member having 
been reelected at the last meeting of the Chamber, to serve 
another year. 

We are highly pleased with the progress your Department 
has thus far made in the meteorological investigations and 
publications. Our citizens look constantly for your reports, 
with great interest and favor, and frequently express them¬ 
selves as much surprised by the general accuracy of your 
foretelling “ probabilities.’’ 



137 


It is gratifying to know that you have finally made satis¬ 
factory arrangements with the telegraphic companies, and 
can now work with greatly increased facilities, and we shall 
gladly aid you all in our power. 

Most respectfully yours, 

George W. Dow, 

Chairman of Committee N. Y. Chamber of Commerce. 


NORTH CAROLINA. 


Old Probability. 

The probability man at the Storm Signal Bureau, at Wash¬ 
ington, is growing in favor with the people, and fairly earned 
their respect and confidence by the singular accuracy of his 
weather predictions. It is but simple justice to him to say 
that he has predicted the weather during the time he noted, 
and prophesied the predictions with marvelous exactness. 

The Columbus Dispatch says: “ Some of our people in 

Ohio lately used 4 cuss words 9 against him for not giving 
them a dose of rain storm, when their springs and streams 
were drying up and their fields bleaching in the scorching 
sun; and when, last Friday, Old Probability announced that 
rain storms might be expected in Central Ohio, the farmers 
watched and scrutinized his predictions. 

“ His prophecies were realized, and the farmers were con¬ 
vinced that Old Aobability was a better weather prophet 
than any tin rooster stuck on the gable end of a barn. The 
wind veered as he predicted, the rain fell as he foretold; 
and cooled by the one and washed by the other, the fields 
18 





138 


began to resume their natural green, and the springs to over¬ 
flow with their usual weight of water. 

“ The reputation of Old Probability has been established 
by this last meteorological feat, and old farmers wait in town 
some hours after their usual time to ascertain from the even¬ 
ing papers the probabilities of the morrow’s weather. 

“The crude notion that Old Probability was, in some 
measure, responsible for the state of the weather, has been 
abandoned for the more rational belief that he is a first-class 
bovine with a glass eye, a calico eyebrow, and gutta percha 
ears .”—Wilmington Morning Star , September 2, 1871. 


OHIO. 

,—, „, 


The storm reached Lake Michigan on Tuesday, as pre¬ 
dicted. Heavy rains were reported at Milwaukee and over 
the northwest. At Madison, Wisconsin, there was a severe 
hailstorm, some hailstones being as large as marbles. The 
storm reached here on Tuesday night, showing the trust¬ 
worthiness and value of the storm prognostications by the 
Weather Signal Corps .—Cleveland Leader , March 15, 1871. 


When the present system of weather observations shall 
have become fully established, it is proposed to locate signal 
posts along the lakes and the Atlantic coast, whereby the 
movements of such storms and other threatening changes 
in the weather shall be notified to passing vessels; and 






139 


these are expected to hoist similar signals, so as to notify 
other vessels, so that all who come within the range of the 
system may he informed in due season of the perils ahead, 
and make their preparations, or run into harbor, accordingly. 
This will, perhaps, be the highest use of the signal service; 
hut if it he continued in full force, as it should be, there are 
scores of ways in which its observations and reports can he 
turned to the interest, the convenience, and even the safety 
of the public, wdiose servant it is.— Cleveland Herald , April 
18, 1871. 


The Weather Reports. 

The readers of the Commercial have, doubtless, observed 
the weather reports which appear in its columns each morn¬ 
ing, and been surprised at the accuracy with which the char¬ 
acter of the weather each day is given on the preceding 
morning. The observations are taken at thirty-five different 
points at present, but before the season is out it is expected 
that about seventy-five reports will be received. The whole 
system is yet new and imperfect, but enough has been de¬ 
veloped to demonstrate its importance and leave no doubt of 
the success of the gentlemen engaged in this work, who are 
confident of their ability in a short time to reduce this 
“ weather prophecy ” to a regular science. Any one can 
readily see the importance of this work by reflecting upon 
the advantages which would arise to all classes of people 
from a knowledge in the morning of the character of the 
weather during the day. Our reports at present are very 
valuable, and they will continue to be more so as the system 
is extended and improved. We have no doubt but the time 
is near when every man may know each morning the gene¬ 
ral state of the weather for the next succeeding twenty-four 
hours. 

We see it stated that the Weather Signal Service Office at 



140 


Washington is sparing no pains to increase the correctness 
and value of its observations. It has just received a com¬ 
plete set of self-registering meteorological instruments, such 
as are used in the Kew Observatory, near London. Several 
of these instruments, including the barometer and ther¬ 
mometer, register themselves by means of photography. 
The anemometer is believed to be the only self-registering 
one in this country. These instruments will be employed in 
making observations in Washington, and the results will be 
carefully compared with those obtained by the instruments 
hitherto in use. It is gratifying to know that those having 
charge of this important service are exercising so much en¬ 
ergy and skill in developing its practicability.— Toledo Com¬ 
mercial , April 27, 1871. 


The Weather Reports. 

Our readers will be glad to learn that the difficulty be¬ 
tween the Meteorological Bureau at Washington, and the 
Western Union Telegraph Company has been finally ad¬ 
justed, and that from the 24th of the present month the full 
reports and predictions will be sent twice a day as formerly. 
The Government has established new stations at Marquette 
and Escanaba, the reports from which will be of great inte¬ 
rest to sailors, shippers and vessel-owners on the lakes. 

Although but a few months have elapsed since this system 
of weather reports was inaugurated, their immense practical 
value is now everywhere conceded. Even amid the fitful, 
erratic weather of April and May the predictions of the 
Chief of the Weather Bureau have been in almost every in¬ 
stance verified with a closeness and accuracy which has 
seemed wonderful. But a few days ago the operator pre¬ 
dicted a storm in California, and the despatch had hardly 
reached San Francisco from Washington before there burst 
upon the Pacific Coast one of the most severe and general 



141 


rain storms ever known tliere at this season* As midsum¬ 
mer draws on, and the hay and harvest season commences, 
these reports will be of extraordinary value to the farmers, 
and we- commend to them a careful study of the predictions 
which they will find each morning in the Leader*— Cleve¬ 
land Daily Leader , May 19, 1871. 


Weather Reports. 

The United States Signal Department has placed in the 
Board of Trade Rooms a weather chart, showing the Meteo¬ 
rological Stations recently established throughout the coun¬ 
try. The telegraphic reports of observations taken synchro¬ 
nously at these stations at 7.16, A. M. (Cleveland time,) will 
he placed upon this map as soon as received, the weather at 
each station being indicated by appropriate symbols and fig¬ 
ures readily understood, and by which the location and pro¬ 
gress of storms can be observed at a glance. Masters of 
vessels especially are invited to avail themselves of the facili¬ 
ties offered at the Board of Trade and at the Signal Office, 
for obtaining information that cannot fail to be of great in¬ 
terest and benefit to navigation. Free admission to the 
rooms of the Board of Trade is allowed to all shipmasters 
in active service .—Daily Herald , Cleveland r June 10, 1871. 


The Weather Prognostications. 

Considering the general incredulity that existed on the 
subject of weather prognostications based on “signs-’—an 
incredulity justified in great measure by the proverbial fact 
that “ all signs fail in a dry time,” and were frequently fal¬ 
lacious at other times—the reception by the press of the 
daily weather bulletins of the Meteorological Department at 
Washington was more favorable from the first than might 




142 


have been expected. There was a manifest disposition to 
give the matter a fair trial, and this disposition was undoubt¬ 
edly strengthened by European experience in the way of 
meteorological observations. Here and there a newspaper 
occasionally pokes fun at an apparent failure on the part of 
the elements to fulfil the promised programme of the officer 
of the weather, but in most cases these gibes prove to have 
been unmerited. As a general thing, however, the testi¬ 
mony has been strongly in favor of the correctness and value 
of the weather observations and the prognostications based 
upon them. ¥e have taken pains to watch these prognos¬ 
tications from the first, and to compare them with the facts. 
So far, we cannot recall an instance of notable failure. 
Ample warning has been given of every considerable storm, 
and no such warning has proved a false alarm. Even the 
minor shades of weather, probable direction of wind, and 
general temperature as affected by winds, have been fore¬ 
shadowed with reasonable accuracy. 

Those facts have gradually forced themselves on the atten¬ 
tion of the public, and many of our readers turn to the 
Weather Bulletin every day as among the first items of news 
to be read. We know of families who are guided by it to a 
great extent in their domestic and social arrangements, judg¬ 
ing whether it will be a good “ drying day,” and whether it 
is safe to take pleasure jaunts or visit evening places of 
amusement without providing against coming storms. The 
Buffalo Express narrates a conversation with a farmer of that 
neighborhood, giving the results of his experience, and his 
testimony could undoubtedly be paralleled by the experience 
of many persons in this locality. The Express says: 

“ Until the experience of this gentleman was related to 
us, we had not, ourselves, half appreciated the usefulness 
that these daily premonitory signals possess for any one 
whose business is particularly dependant upon or much in¬ 
fluenced by the state of the weather—such as the farmer, the 
builder, and all pretty • nearly in fact, whose work, as we 
phrase it, is 4 out of doors. 7 He tells us that, since the pub- 


143 


lication of the weather reports first began, he has given care¬ 
ful attention to them; that he has thoroughly tested the 
almost unfailing correctness of the forecasts of weather 
which is deduced from them, and that now he is governed by 
their prophetic dictation entirely in planning his farm work 
and laying out his undertakings, so far as the weather has 
to do with them. He consults the weather despatches as an 
oracle, every morning at the first opening of his paper, and 
unhesitatingly takes from it his cue for the next twenty-four 
or forty-eight hours. He says that he is never misled, and 
that what he saves and gains in the management of his busi¬ 
ness, by foreknowing with approximate accuracy the changes 
of the weather and the coming of storms, is worth to him 
a great many times the cost of the newspaper which fur¬ 
nishes it.’ 5 

Every month adds to the extent and efficiency of the ob¬ 
servations and consequent accuracy of the prognostications. 
It will probably not be very long before the divisions of ter¬ 
ritory for which the special “probabilities” are prepared 
will be greatly subdivided, so that, if necessary, predictions 
can be made for small sections three or four times a day.— 
Cleveland Herald , July 30, 1871. 


Weather Science. 

Observers who noticed the red flag flying over Atwater 
Buildings on Tuesday morning, and wondered what it was 
all about, must have very generally concluded on the even¬ 
ing of that day, as the gale burst upon the lake and city, that 
there is something more than a mere guess in the Govern¬ 
ment “weather probabilities.” Most of the lake captains 
heeded the warning and remained in port, but one ventured 
out and lost his vessel in consequence. How far the new 



144 


cautionary signal system is responsible for the fact that the 
recent severe storm was attended with so few disasters on 
Lake Erie, it would he difficult to say, but beyond question 
its services have been most important. At all events it was 
one of the most sudden and severe storms that has been 
known for years, and the disasters thus far reported are 
remarkably light. We shall look with confidence to see the 
marine losses on the lakes less next year than ever before 
since western navigation attained anything like its present 
proportions. The whole science of meteorological observa¬ 
tion and prediction is rapidly approaching a wonderful de¬ 
gree of accuracy, and promises early and very valuable 
results. In this connection it is interesting to notice that 
Commodore Maury, to whom the Storm Signal System is in¬ 
debted for many valuable suggestions and discoveries, has 
just read before a Maryland society a paper proposing a 
grand enlargement of the storm signal system, so as to in¬ 
clude all civilized countries within its scope. Besides 
weather reports, the observers of the proposed system would 
be required to report regularly the amount of rain, the char¬ 
acter of the seasons and minute accounts of the condition and 
promise of all important crops. It is well known that at 
present speculators are enabled in many cases to seriously 
disturb the markets by getting up false alarms over the fail¬ 
ure of certain crops in distant localities, and it is rightly 
judged by Professor Maury that his proposed plan would 
effectually prevent all this in future. 

The merchants of New York and London could at any 
hour command facilities for ascertaining just how sugar was 
growing in Brazil, coffee in the Indies, or wheat on the 
steepes of Asia Minor, and the world of commerce would 
thereby be enabled to anticipate and provide for any scarcity, 
in a remote section, resulting from a failure of the local crop. 
It wpuld in short be a most important step toward that thor¬ 
ough and immediate intercourse between all nations which 
the present age is beginning to demand. 

England, France, Germany and the United States have 


145 


each their separate Storm Signal Bureau! They have but 
to join in the project of an international exchange of reports 
and Professor Maury’s plan will be in a fair way toward com¬ 
pletion as soon as the ocean telegraphs now projected are 
laid to the distant colonies belonging to those powers.— 
Cleveland Herald , Dec. 1871. 


Storm Signals on the Lakes. 

The thorough success of the Storm Signal Bureau so far 
as its application has been attempted, is well understood. 
Thus far, however, its results have been more valuable to 
those on shore than to the mariners afloat on the seas and 
our great lakes, and this for the reason that no adequate 
means have yet been devised for communicating the meteo¬ 
rological facts known on shore to those at sea. To meet 
this difficulty it is suggested that the Government adopt a 
system of shore signals similar to those which have been in 
use with such favorable results in England. It is well 
known that a vessel sailing from the middle of Lake Erie 
into the port of Cleveland often undergoes a marked change 
in meteorological surroundings. While it is calm or favora¬ 
ble sailing weather fifteen miles from land, a high wind 
may be prevailing on shore, with a threatening storm, and 
the vessels may sail out of comparative safety into the seri¬ 
ous peril of attempting to make our narrow harbor in a 
gale. Again, a vessel passing here bound up the lakes may 
sail past under a bright sky, while the storm signal operator 
in this city knows that she will encounter a furious storm 
before she can possibly reach Detroit Biver. To meet all 
this varying class of difficulties it is suggested that there be 
erected at all prominent points along the lakes, a series of 
shore signals arranged after the English plan. These con¬ 
sist simply of a tall staff upon which can be hoisted by day 
a canvas banner shaped to convey a certain meaning. In 
19 



146 


the British system a cone shaped flag is raised, with the apex 
pointing upward to indicate that a gale may he expected 
from the north, if downward, from the south. A cylindrical 
form shows that the wind may come from any quarter and 
the cone and cylinder together indicate that a gale is cer¬ 
tainly imminent. At night, lanterns are used, and these 
signals, seen at a distance of from ten to twenty miles, have 
saved hundreds of lives, and property to a large amount. 
When it is remembered that in 1869 the marine losses on 
the western lakes alone amounted to a million and a half of 
dollars, it will not seem strange that a system which would 
cost hut a tithe of that amount should be so strongly urged 
for immediate adoption by those most interested and best 
qualified to judge of its merits .—Cleveland Leader , June 26, 
1871. 


P > ElsriSrSYLX r A.N'I^L. 


There is a difference of opinion in the Appropriation 
Committee on the propriety of continuing the Storm Signal 
Service. This new system has just been got into fair work¬ 
ing order, is now being practically tested by every branch of 
the community, and certainly bids fair to prove beneficial to 
the agricultural, marine and scientific interests of the country. 
The Committee on Appropriations cannot well devote money 
to a better or more popular service than the Storm Signal 
Corps .—Philadelphia Enquirer , January 27, 1871. 





147 


Forecasts of the weather for twenty-four hours, based on 
the reports of the Signal Service, will hereafter be furnished 
by the Government. These will be of great service to those 
who journey, or have ventures by sea or land. If the 
snow storm of yesterday had been announced a day in ad¬ 
vance, thousands would have made preparations to meet it 
in a proper manner, and thus escaped both loss and discom¬ 
fort. Wind storms may also be forecast with great advan¬ 
tage to shipmasters and those who journey by water. If a 
skipper has intimation that a storm may be expected at a 
certain time, he has the choice of remaining in a secure 
place, or running, out to sea, and avoiding the danger of 
being dashed upon the coast, amid winds, waves, and tem¬ 
pest gusts. The contemplated movement is one of practical 
value, and it will be so regarded by the public.— The Age , 
Philadelphia , February 15, 1871. 


The Weather Reports. 

It used to be quite a common thing to refer in a jocular 
way to the “ Clerk of the Weather, ” as a person to be con¬ 
sulted in order to learn whether it was “ likely to be a fair 
day to-morrow.’’ That Clerk was a myth. It has remained 
for our day to bring forth a veritable Clerk of the Weather, 
who is “a live man,” who attends to his business, who 
speaks with no uncertain voice, and who rarely disappoints. 
He is a vigilant and far-seeing functionary, for he keeps 
watch over the air, the winds, the clouds, the rains, and the 
storms, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the great 
lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. He has forty subordinate 
u Clerks, ” who keep watch under him in the large cities, 
and at various favorable positions throughout the United 
States. One of these has his office in Philadelphia, but the 
Central Office is in a quiet side street near the War Depart¬ 
ment in Washington. This latter is the Headquarters of the 



148 


Chief of the Signal Corps of the Army. There he is sur¬ 
rounded by a small staff of assistants, and in communication 
with the whole telegraphic system of the country, and sur¬ 
rounded also with instruments so delicate, and yet so nearly 
perfect that they feel and instantly record the slightest change 
in the atmosphere; with maps, and symbols by which these 
changes can be promptly shown upon the maps, so that the 
condition of the weather everywhere in the United States is 
shown at one glance, and the direction in which either a 
storm or fair weather is moving is perfectly visible. The 
work of this Office is still in its infancy, and yet it is already 
far in advance of any meteorological system heretofore es¬ 
tablished in any country. 

There are at this time about forty observing stations, but 
the number is to be considerably increased. The one farthest 
east is Portland; the farthest west is at San Francisco; and the 
farthest south FTew Orleans. The others are, of course, in¬ 
termediate. The most westerly station, however, in which 
we of the Atlantic coast have direct interest is at Cheyenne, 
at the eastern basis of the Rocky Mountains, for the storms 
of the “ Great Basin” and the Pacific slope but rarely affect 
this part of our broad country. At each of these stations is 
a “ sergeant observer,” who is enlisted in the army, and 
carefully instructed, and who is furnished with approved 
standard instruments, and a clear and full code of instruc¬ 
tions, including a “ cypher ” for brief, uniform, and inexpen¬ 
sive telegraphing. Each of these “ observers ” makes three 
observations and three telegraphic reports per day to the 
central office, as nearly as possible eight hours apart. These 
reports note the present condition and the changes of the 
barometer, of the temperature as indicated by the dry and 
wet bulb thermometers, of the direction and force of the 
wind, of the appearance of the sky, and also as to the 
presence or absence of rain, snow, hail, sleet, fog, &c. All 
the observers being in telegraphic communication with the 
central office, the observations are made at the same instant 
of time over the whole country; they are made by instru- 


149 


merits adjusted to the same common standard; they are 
made by men trained under the same code of instructions; 
they are reported in the same forms of language; and are, 
in consequence, as near absolute uniformity as they can be. 
These characteristics give them their great advantage over 
the systems of other countries, and their great value in this. 

Thus far the reports have wisely abstained from predic¬ 
tions except in the form of “ probabilities,” and these are 
limited to about twelve hours in the future. But higher 
and more important uses of the system are yet to come. It 
is already known that the severe northeast storms of the 
north Atlantic coast move from the west towards the east or 
northeast. There is scarcely a known exception to this 
rule. The path of one of these storms, beginning west of 
the Missouri river, or in the same longitude, can be foreseen 
with reasonable accuracy as to the belt of country it will 
cover, and the time when it will reach any point to the 
eastward. When the system of observation shall have be¬ 
come fully established, it is proposed to locate signal posts 
along the lakes and the Atlantic coast, whereby the move¬ 
ments of such storms and other threatening changes in the 
weather shall be notified to passing vessels; and these are 
expected to hoist similar signals, so as to notify other vessels, 
so that all who come within the range of the system may be 
informed in due season of the perils ahead, and make their 
preparations, or run into harbor, accordingly. This will, 
perhaps, be the highest use of the Signal Service; but if it 
be continued in full force, as it should be, there are scores 
of ways in which its observations and reports can be turned 
to the interest, the convenience, and even the safety of the 
public, whose servant it is .—Philadelphia Public Ledger , April 
14 , 1871 . 


150 


Weather Reports. 

The present system of weather reports gives great satis¬ 
faction to the country, and is of much value to various classes 
of citizens. 

We are confident, however, that several improvements can 
he made, without burdening either the officers of the Signal 
Service or the newspaper columns. 

For example, the “ probabilities ” are now given for such 
large sections of country that they may fail to give true in¬ 
formation at particular points. 

It would be well, in our judgment, to be more specific in 
predicting for smaller sections, especially on the seaboard. 

Again, the “ probability ” is given only for 24 hours in 
advance; but we think the data would usually enable the 
officer in charge to predict for 48 hours. 

With regard to the shorter, and more certain predictions, 
we trust that an efficient system of signals will be devised to 
be displayed at lighthouses, for the warning of coasting 
vessels. 

For all these purposes, the number of stations ought also 
to be increased. 

We have taken the more interest in this subject, because 
we had the honor to be the first newspaper (with the excep¬ 
tion of the Boston Courier ,) to propose the use of the tele¬ 
graph for this purpose. 

In our issue of April 8, 1848, twenty-three years ago, we 
said that such “ daily bulletins of the coming state of the 
weather ” would “ save more property from shipwreck than 
ten times the cost of the system,” besides the saving of lives. 

On January 13, 1849, we referred to the article in the 
Boston Courier , (which, by the way, was written by ourselves 
before the Item was born,) and, after describing the system, 
said, that the time was coming when “ seamen will look to 
telegraphic bulletins of coming weather with as much cer¬ 
tainty as they look to the Nautical Almanac for eclipses,” &c. 

We returned to the subject on the 17th of March, 1849, and 


151 


ask: “At how early a period in the progress of a storm is 
its course and velocity developed? and, if we had twice 
or three times a day telegraphic despatches of the weather, 
might we not, even with our present knowledge of meteoro- 
logy, predict the weather on the Atlantic coast, and on the 
lakes ?”—Philadelphia City Item , May 3, 1871. 


Weather Reports. 

We should be sorry to have some recent remarks of ours 
upon this topic interpreted as implying any censure or fault 
finding. The U. S. Signal Service conducts the reports with 
much ability, but they have not at present sufficient facilities 
granted them in their work. There ought to he more 
stations of observation, in order that the precise limits and 
rate of motion of a storm may be more equally defined. 
The observations at each station should be of two kinds— 
one set being taken at fixed hours of local time for giving 
means at each place; the second set—of winds, barometer, 
and weather, at least—being taken synchronously at fixed 
hours of Washington meantime; without this synchronism 
the observations are not fully suitable for tracing the paths 
of storms; and with it, they are not so valuable for estab¬ 
lishing and comparing means. The synchronous observa- 
tions, from a large number of points , will enable us finally to 
classify storms as to their origin, and to determine, perhaps, 
the conditions which sometimes lead the weather to run in 
cycles six and a half to seven days, for a month, and even some¬ 
times two months. We also need telegraphic communica¬ 
tion with the principal light-houses and headlands, that we 
may display weather-signals for the benefit of passing ves¬ 
sels. All this will come, and come quietly—just as through 
the railroad and telegraph the whole system of time-keeping 
has changed. The observatory at Cambridge gives time by 
telegraph to nearly all New England; that at Albany, to 



152 


nearly all the State of New York, and so on. And General 
Myer, with his web of wires, is weather-wise for all the lakes 
and the Atlantic seaboard .—City Item , Philadelphia , June 2, 

1871. 


Office of the Board of Trade, 
Philadelphia , January 6, 1872. 

Lient. Col. Garrick Mallery, 

Acting Signal Officer, and Assistant, 

War Department, Washington, D. C. 

Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your 
communication of the 2d instant, and to advise you that at 
a meeting of the Committee on Commerce to-day, the sug¬ 
gestions contained therein were heartily approved, and I 
have been requested to assure you that it will afford the 
Committee pleasure to cooperate with the Department in the 
manner indicated. 

Apropos, I inclose communication signed A. Watson, 
which been referred to the Committee, who hold in abey¬ 
ance their views on the subject, until favored with your 
opinion thereon, which is respectfully invited. 

I would be pleased to receive reply, (returning the en¬ 
closed,) in time for report of the Committee to the Board of 
Trade on the 15th instant. 

Yours very respectfully, 

Thomas C. Hand, 

Chairman Sub Committee, &c. 



153 


I^I-XODE XSLAJSTD. 


The daily weather reports of the Signal Bureau have be¬ 
come of much interest, and to commerce and navigation 
highly valuable. The general accuracy of their predictions 
attests the value of meteorological observations, and people 
have learned to look to the predictions modestly styled “ pro¬ 
babilities” for the regulation of their out-door concerns, so 
far as they are affected by the weather. The science of me¬ 
teorology is in its infancy; but the observations, extending 
over so wide a surface, and the deductions made from them, 
are heaping up the material from which the laws that govern 
the winds and the storms and the variations of the tempera¬ 
ture will yet be predicted, if not with the certainty of astro¬ 
nomical calculations, yet with sufficient accuracy to he of 
immense value in the practical business of life. It is a plea¬ 
sant thing to see the scientific acquirements and the resources 
of those branches of the public service dedicated to war, 
ministering to the needs of peaceful commerce, and to the 
diffusion of useful information. Two naval expeditions 
have lately been exploring the great isthmus, the one at 
Darien, the other at Tehuantepec, to solve the problem of 
inter-oceanic communication, at some point of that narrow 
and mountainous strip that separates the surging Atlantic 
from the peaceful waters of the western [coast, The army 
is constantly occupied in interior explorations, and the reports 
laid before Congress and the country from the officers in 
command of them have furnished much of our information 
upon the geographyand natural resources of the vast regions 
which it is reserved for future generations to cover with a 
free and prosperous population .—Providence Journal , June 
13 , 1871 . 

20 



154 


SOUTH CAROLINA. 


Weather Signals—A New Duty for Soldiers. 

General Albert J. Myer, Chief Signal Officer of the 
United States Army, in his report to the Secretary of War 
for the year 1870, gives the outline of the system of meteoro¬ 
logical observations and reports adopted by the Signal Bu¬ 
reau “ for the benefit of commerce,” as provided for in the 
joint resolution of Congress, passed February 9, 1870. The 
resolution is in these words : 

u Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress Assembled , That the 
Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and re¬ 
quired to provide for taking meteorological observations at 
the military stations in the interior of the continent, and at 
other points in the States and Territories of the United 
States, and for giving notice on the northern lakes and on 
the seacoast by magnetic telegraph and marine signals of the 
approach and force of storms.” 

Nearly all the large cities in the United States and all the 
military posts in the Territories have been designated as 
stations for the taking of observations. Certain cities are 
designated as distributing centres, to which all the reports 
are sent, and from there telegraphed over the country. At 
each station there is to be a bulletin board giving the state 
of the weather in all sections of the Union at a given hour. 
The bulletins are also to be published in the daily news¬ 
papers, and in the course of time will, no doubt, form an in¬ 
dispensable paragraph in the commercial columns. 

The Baltimore merchant, for instance, who has wool, or 
pork, or salt, or any other article of commerce which may 




155 


be effected by wind or rain, heat or cold, lying on the 
wharves at Chicago, or crossing the prairies in open cars, 
will naturally feel some interest in the state of the weather 
at those particular points. If, perchance, he has a vessel on 
Lake Erie, he will be exceeding^ anxious to know the direc¬ 
tion and force of the wind at Cleveland or Buffalo. If he 
has a cotton plantation in the South, frosts, rains and floods 
become to him as much a matter of tender solicitude as the 
ruling prices of the staple product. 

And even to those who are not merchants, and have no 
pecuniary investments in which profit and loss depend on 
the winds and the temperature, it will afford some satisfac¬ 
tion to know the particular kind of day a loved one traveling 
in the West may have chosen for a trip by land or water. 
If the day be fine it will give some joy to think over his or 
her probable happiness. If it be cold or wet, or gloomy, 
there will be a sort of melancholy satisfaction in sympathiz¬ 
ing with him or her in their discomforts .—Charleston Repub¬ 
lican, Jan . 7, 1871. 


The experiment of collecting by telegraph barometrical 
and thermometrical reports from all important points in the 
United States, at the Signal Office of the War Department, 
at Washington, and by a scientific deduction from such col¬ 
lated reports, making accurate and reliable predictions of 
the weather in time to be of practical service to the country, 
is being fairly tried. The storm centre is defined, and 
atmospheric changes are carefully noted, and then the scien¬ 
tific watchers at the National Capital send their daily des¬ 
patches over the wires, predicting at least twenty-four hours 
in advance, the prevailing direction and force of the winds, 
and the character of the weather in the different sections of 
the Union. On Saturday last, 25th ult., at 4.85, P. M., they 
announced among the probabilities, “ thick winds on Sunday 
night” along the Atlantic coast. On the afternoon and 



156 


night of Sunday, this “ probability ” was realized as a cer¬ 
tainty, by the dwellers in the coast and middle counties of 
South Carolina. How far the gust or succession of “ thick 
winds ” extended, cannot here he exactly stated. But there 
are at least three points in the route of the storm line which 
can be reliably reported. The storm, passing almost parallel 
with the coast, reached the vicinity of Ridge ville, on the 
South Carolina railroad, where it prostrated trees and fen¬ 
cing, and occasioned the smashing of Dr. Murray’s carriage, 
injuring himself and others of his family, and killing one of 
his children. Crossing the Santee, it came upon the Metho¬ 
dist congregation who had been attending quarterly meet¬ 
ing at a church three miles below Summerton, and w’ere 
wending their homeward way in their carriages. At this 
point, it was equally severe, the largest trees being prostrated 
by the blast, and several imminent and almost miraculous 
escapes occurred, the horses being reined up just in time to 
allow the monster falling tree to reach the ground in advance 
of them. Thence it came on to this town, where, towards 
the close of a balmy day, it broke upon the scene with all 
the characteristics of a tempest, the rain not falling, but 
flying with the wind in lines almost parallel with the surface, 
and making what might be very appropriately designated 
“ thick winds.” The storm, which, before reaching Sumter, 
was from south to north, as its general course, had here 
fairly commenced its circular whirl, and was from southwest 
to northeast. Ho serious damage is reported in this vicinity. 
The Washington office publishes its bulletins, but can only 
ascertain how far its predictions are verified by subsequent 
reports of the actual state of the elements at the times and 
places predicted. And in this point of view, the foregoing 
may not be without interest.— The Courier , Charleston , March 
6, 1871. 


157 


A Commercial Convenience. 

The United States Signal Department has placed in the 
rooms of the Chamber of Commerce a weather bulletin, 
giving telegraphic reports of observations at the various 
meteorological stations recently established throughout the 
country. The observations are taken simultaneously at 
these stations at 7.47 A. M., Charleston time, and will be 
placed upon the bulletin the morning of the same day as 
soon as received. The attention of masters of vessels and 
others is invited to the facilities thus offered, which may be 
availed of either at the rooms of the Chamber, or at the Sig¬ 
nal Office, for obtaining information that cannot fail to be of 
great interest and benefit to navigation. It is believed that 
at an early day the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce 
will be furnished by the Signal Department with a weather 
chart, which will exhibit in a more compendious manner 
than the bulletin the state of the weather at the various me¬ 
teorological stations .—Charleston News , June 21, 1871. 


The Weather Prophets. 

Parly last week the Storm Signal Bureau reported that 
i(i everything was favorable in Illinois for the occurrence of a 
tornado.” No tornado occurring, the papers of that State 
made merry at the expense of the Department, and suggested 
that they read up on Josh Billings’ “ Prognostic” Their 
laughter was a little too soon, however, for on Friday eve¬ 
ning the tornado arrived, accompanied with an abundance 
of lightning and a small ocean of water. Chicago invested 
in the sport to the amount, of $35,000, and the damage 
throughout the State must have been proportionally large. 
The Weather Bureau knows a thing or two, after all.— 
Charleston Courier , July 1, 1871. 



158 


Weather Charts in the Chamber of Commerce. 

We have on more than one occasion called attention to 
the rapidly increasing value of the meteorological informa¬ 
tion supplied by the Signal Bureau at Washington to the 
different stations throughout the country. Experience proves 
that the Officers of the Bureau are remarkably correct in their 
calculations of the probable course of the weather, and it 
must be of great value to the shipping-masters to know the 
state of the weather on the coast, the direction of the wind, 
and, in general, when to look out for squalls. Kor can the 
farmer and planter afford to overlook the weather telegrams 
as published in the daily prints. These reports are made 
up to 4.37 P. M., on the day preceding the day of their pub¬ 
lication. They are, of course, sixteen hours old when they 
appear in print. This cannot well be avoided, but ship¬ 
masters may, through the courtesy of the Chamber of Com¬ 
merce, obtain much later information. A report similar to 
that published by the papers is posted up in the rooms of the 
Chamber of Commerce at ten o’clock each morning. This 
report is dated 7.47 A. M., and is posted up, as stated, within 
three hours from the time when the report is completed. 
The Chamber of Commerce courteously allow ship-masters 
free access to their rooms, where may also be seen the new 
weather chart recently furnished to the Chamber by the 
Signal Bureau. This chart, which is corrected at ten o’clock 
each morning, shows the direction of the wind and its veloc¬ 
ity, the state of the weather, and the height of the the barom¬ 
eter and thermometer at all of the fifty-two stations of the 
Signal Bureau. These stations extend from Quebec to Key 
West, thence to Galveston, San Francisco, and Cheyenne, 
and round by Duluth to Montreal and Toronto. They cover 
every important meteorological point in the United States 
and Canada. Colored markers on the chart show, at a 
glance, the condition of things meteorological. A red disk 
means clear weather; a blue disk cloudy weather; a black 
disk means rain. Small arrows point out the way the wind 


159 


is blowing. Slips of card give the velocity, and the height 
of the barometer and thermometer. It is a very complete 
chart, and should be invaluable to ship-masters and all who 
go down to sea. As the meteorological reports are extended 
they will be more and more used, and the rising generation 
of Charleston may expect to see the time when not even a 
trip to the fishing banks will be undertaken until a glance 
has been had at the weather chart .—Charleston News , July 
28, 1871. 


Captain Dawson, from the Meteorological Committee, 
submitted the following report to the Chamber of Com¬ 
merce of this city, which, on motion, was adopted: 

Charleston, July 28, 1871. 

The Meteorological Committee beg leave to report that 
they have been in correspondence with General A. J. Myer, 
the Chief Signal Officer, who, as requested, has furnished for 
the use of the Chamber, one of the valuable weather charts 
prepared by his Bureau. This chart is hung in the reading 
room of the Chamber, and is corrected by the Observer Ser¬ 
geant at 10 o’clock each morning. 

The weather reports, dated at 4.47 P. M., are now pub¬ 
lished regularly in the city morning papers. But the 1 A. M. 
reports, as we are advised, arrive too late for publication. The 
7.47 A. M. report is posted on the bulletin board in the read¬ 
ing rooms of the Chamber at an early hour each morning, 
and we trust that ship-masters will avail themselves of the 
opportunity now afforded them of acquainting themselves 
with the state of the weather at the fifty-two posts of the 
Meteorological Bureau. This information is admitted on all 
sides to be of great value, and we are pleased to believe that, 
in the matter of meteorological reports, Charleston is, for all 
practical purposes, upon an equal footing with the most 
favored ports on the North Atlantic coast. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

Charleston Daily Republican , July 29, 1871. 



160 


“The Clerk of the Weather.” 

This hitherto mythical personage bids fair ere long to as¬ 
sume a practical and certainly a very beneficent kind of ex¬ 
istence. Our readers will have noticed daily in our columns, 
of late, a carefully prepared statement of the weather of the 
previous twenty-four hours, from all parts of the United 
States, and a “ forecast ” of the probable weather of the en¬ 
suing twelve hours, prepared and sent to us, each night, by 
the Storm and Signal Service Branch of the United States 
War Department, at Washington. The publication of these 
reports marks a new era in physical science, and opens to 
our view an unexplored and singularly interesting field of 
human knowledge. This Storm and Signal Service, by giv¬ 
ing notice of approaching storms, has already saved thou¬ 
sands of dollars in shipping and cargoes on the great lakes, 
and after a little more preparation and organization it will 
become of incalculable benefit to farmers, by giving them 
notice, by means of cannon-firing at all the towns in the land, 
of the approach of storms likely to injure newly cut crops.— 
Charleston Daily News. 


Chamber of Commerce, 
Charleston , S. C 1, May 31s£, 1871. 

Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 

Sir : The Committee of this Chamber on “ Meteorological 
Observations” are obliged for your letter of 20th inst., and 
have only to repeat their assurance that any assistance in 
their power to render, either to the agent of the United 
States Government or to your Department, shall be cheerfully 
given. 

They are pleased to notice that proper arrangements are 
now made with the various telegraph companies for the 



161 


transmission of reports, and tlie daily tabulated report is now 
regularly filed in the rooms of this Chamber. 

A very great interest is taken in these reports by this 
community, not only in consequence of their daily practical 
usefulness, but there is also a hope that the wide field which 
you have opened to these observations will afford, perhaps, 
in the course of time, even greater practical results than at 
present. 

I am, sir, for the Committee, with great respect, 

Your obedient servant, 

E. Hovey Frost, 

Chairman. 


Charleston, S. C., Nov. 9th , 1871. 

Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 

General : The weather chart in the rooms of the Cham¬ 
ber of Commerce attracts great attention. It is particularly 
interesting to the cotton factors, and I have been requested 
to ascertain if we could not have the report from Montgom¬ 
ery, Ala. 

The object is to know the weather in the whole cotton 
belt or cotton raising region, and the report from Montgom¬ 
ery is, therefore, desired. 

Ship-masters and others wishing to consult the weather 
chart, are invited through the newspapers to visit our rooms 
for that purpose, and it is daily exciting more attention and 
interest. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

C. Graveley, 

For the Committee on Reading Room, Chamber of Commerce. 

Sergeant Evans is very attentive, prompt and efficient 

21 



TElSnSTESSEE. 


The Signal Service. 

We are pleased to note throughout the entire country a 
growing appreciation of the work doing by the Meteorologi¬ 
cal Signal Service. Of the full importance of this, only the 
inhabitants of seacoasts, and sea-faring people, can form a 
just appreciation. To them some foreknowledge of the 
weather is indispensable. The need has long since made 
coasters and seamen weatherwise beyond other people. But 
while this knowledge is so needful on the sea, it is far from 
useless to those who dwell inland. We refer in the first 
place to the forecasts of weather, because this is the work by 
which the public know best, and most esteem the Signal 
Service; but this is as yet by no means the work which the 
Signal Officer esteems most. He finds plenty of work to do 
in watching and recording without prophesying. Sufficient 
for the day is the work it brings, and the probabilities that 
are appended to the daily reports are not strictly required 
by the work in hand. 

The science of Meteorology is as yet in its infancy, and 
owing to the immense field over which it extends, and the 
exceedingly variable elements with which it has to deal it 
has necessarily been occupied with observation and collec¬ 
tion of facts and phenomena. That there are already suffi¬ 
cient data in the hands of the meteorologists whereon to 
base very trustworthy conjectures is very manifest, from the 
many palpable hits made every week in forecasting the 
weather. 

But these data are for the present necessarily determined 
from very general causes. Meteorologists have learned that 



163 


the changes of weather occurring at any given point to-day 
are hut the far-reaching result of widely extending causes, 
which are in turn but parts of great systems encompassing 
wide zones of the land and sea. It has become absolutely 
essential to the development of the science of meteorology 
that wide circuits of the earth should be mapped otf and 
careful observations kept of every change, and these records 
carefully compared. As we look over the wide field and 
estimate the immense amount of patient research which is 
indispensable to any approach towards accuracy, we cannot 
but marvel at the success already attained. 

The subj ect of meteorology has engaged the official attention 
of the leading governments of Europe since 1853, when a 
conference, consisting of representatives from the various 
maritime countries, met at Brussels. It was the agreed aim 
of that conference to secure the taking of accurate observa¬ 
tions with correct instruments throughout the widest possi¬ 
ble scope of sea and land. In accordance with this purpose, 
instructions were issued by most of the governments to their 
naval and mercantile officers to institute such observations 
and keep such records as were in their power. England 
opened a Meteorological Department in her Board of Trade, 
with Admiral Eitzroy at its head. Under the vigorous conduct 
of the Admiral, the labors of this Department were pushed 
to all parts of the sea, and an immense mass of information col¬ 
lected bearing on the winds and tides. Communication was 
opened with France and other European countries, and ob¬ 
servations exchanged. The daily communication of the 
state of the weather is due, however, to M. L. Yerrier, the 
distinguished director of the Imperial Observatory of Paris, 
who not only sent daily telegrams throughout France, but 
extended them to the various countries connected by tele¬ 
graph with Paris. In 1851, storm signals and weather warn¬ 
ings were erected in various British ports, and an attempt 
made to put to practical use the information obtained. This 
attempt, however, had not proved satisfactory up to the death 
of Admiral Eitzroy. From that event the Meteorological 


164 


Department was taken under the especial charge of the 
Royal Society and Board of Trade acting in concert, and has 
been very greatly improved. 

Russia signalized her appreciation of the science, by estab¬ 
lishing a thorough system of observatories provided with the 
best instruments to be had, and under the management of 
the best men to be found. Fortunately for the execution of 
this plan the telegraph is at the control of the Emperor. 
In addition the telegraph companies of Europe very gen¬ 
erally agreed to send the meteorological despatches free of 
charge. 

In the United States, until very recently, the attention 
given to meteorological observations has been only incidental 
and desultory, being confided almost exclusively to volun¬ 
teer meteorologists. Row, however, it is taken in hand 
earnestly. General Myer, an earnest enthusiast, is at the 
head of the Department, and is pushing it ahead, in the face 
of difficulties and annoyances which would have long since 
disheartened any but a brave enthusiast. The difficulties 
were found in the wide scope of country embraced, and the 
annoyances in the unaccommodating disposition displayed 
by the telegraph companies. Gradually the difficulties are 
vanishing, and it is to be hoped that ere a great while all 
telegraphic annoyances will be removod. The work of the 
Signal Corps is of incalculable importance to the country, 
and should be pushed ahead in spite of every obstacle, and 
we believe it will be .—Knoxville Whig and Register , April 23, 
1871. 


Memphis, Sept 18th, 1871. 

General Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer of the Army, 

Washington, D. C. 

Sir : I have the honor to advise you, in consideration of 
the regretted removal of Mr. Hugh Coyle from the Signal 



165 


• 

Station in this city, that I have had daily opportunity to note 
his official and personal conduct, and I have the pleasure of 
stating that his habits have exhibited unexceptional moral 
tone, personal neatness and cleanliness, punctual, scrupu¬ 
lous, accurate and uniform discharge of his duty as Signal 
Officer, with prompt observance of every detail, and that his 
whole conduct and habits have reflected credit upon the 
Bureau, in whose service he has been. 

"Witness my official signature and the corporate 
/ qpat l seal of the Chamber of Commerce. 

\ j Leon Trowsdale, 

v , j Secretary. 


TEXAS. 


The Signal Corps. 

We are much gratified that the suggestion made in Flake’s 
Bulletin months ago, that Galveston be made a Signal Sta¬ 
tion, has been carried out, and that the Government has 
sent an agent here to attend to that matter. . . 

Mr. Wm. von Hake, Observer Sergeant, is now in the 
city and will, as soon as possible, locate his office and station, 
and commence the discharge of his arduous duties, which 
are, in part, to observe “ the signs of the weather,” and to 
furnish the observations to the telegraph office as soon as 
possible thereafter and always in time to be dispatched to 
Washington city and throughout the country for the infor¬ 
mation of all. He will also furnish to the press as often as 
several times a day, such observations as are made, that 




166 


through the press the people may be possessed of all possi¬ 
ble information at the earliest practicable moment. 

Perhaps during the present century no more important 
discovery has been made than the one of prognosticating 
the present to discover the results upon the future, and thus 
enable us to guard against “ approaching storms, hurricanes 
and foul weather.” Could we but look one moment into 
the future, all danger could be avoided and eternal safety be 
our lot. 

This great discovery enables us to approach as near to the 
future as is possible, and is, therefore, a desideratum in the 
science of preservation. We understand from Mr. Hake 
that other stations will be established along the Gulf coast.— 
Flake's Daily Bulletin , Galveston , April 14, 1871. 


Weather Reports. 

Among our pictures is one entitled, “The Weather 
Prophet.” A good man and his ancient dog are looking out 
of a window. He has taken his pipe from his mouth, cocked 
his weather eye skyward, and is looking wise as he discusses 
with “ the old woman ” the kind of weather that we shall 
have on the morrow. Pictures like these will soon be his¬ 
toric. The little paragraph that Sergeant Hake daily con¬ 
tributes to our morning paper will shortly be of more value 
than many weather prophets. His few recorded observations 
are being deduced, and in a few months we shall know the 
weather of to-morrow with the same certainty that we now 
know next year’s eclipse. It will not be a long period until we 
shall ring for our morning papers to ascertain the propriety 
of changing woolen for cotton, and Madam will look at Satur¬ 
day’s news to decide on Sunday’s bonnet. Farmers will 
send to the postoffice for intelligence when the ground will 



167 


be fit for plowing and for shearing sheep. Sailors will guide 
their ships by the weather reports, and lovers select fair 
weather evenings as they now do those which have moon¬ 
light. These are a few of the great results which will come 
from weather reports .—Galveston News , May 20, 1871. 


Important Predictions as to the Storm. 

On last Thursday at noon the telegram sent from Wash¬ 
ington, D. C., gave the following statement: 

“ It is probable that partially cloudy and pleasant weather 
will be experienced on Friday from Missouri to Virginia, 
and northward. It is probable that rain and high winds will 
prevail on the Gulf, west of Florida, during the night.” 

The next despatch, sent the next day, said: 

“It is probable the high winds on the Gulf will advance, 
with rain, to the coast of Louisiana.” 

The New Orleans papers tell us that the prediction is a 
disastrous reality; that the southeasterly wind has been very 
violent and damaging. How well the prediction has been 
met at this city we too well know. 

The fulfillment of these prophetic statements shows the 
vast importance of heeding the timely warnings of these 
important barometrical reports. This one warning and its 
certain fulfillment should not be forgotten in the future.— 
Daily Bulletin , Galveston , June 6, 1871. 


Last night the Chief Signal Officer, charged with report¬ 
ing and prognosticating the weather, reported from his head¬ 
quarters, at Washington City, that “ southwesterly winds, with 
partially cloudy and warm weather, will probably prevail on 
the Gulf coast on Friday.” And it was so, and more so. 




168 


Long before day the clouds began to pour copious libations 
upon the thirsty earth at Galveston; and this morning the 
low grounds had become sweet water lakes, and the ditches 
poured like mountain torrents. The rain was most timely 
and welcome, as we learn that the venders of water had al¬ 
ready put on a high tariff, and were rejoicing in the prospect 
of great profits from the poor people who were compelled to 
buy water .—Galveston Civilian , July 28, 1871. 


Galveston, Texas, 

June 15 th, 1871. 


Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., 

• Washington, D. C. 


Sir: The Meteorological Committee of the Galveston 
Chamber of Commerce acknowledges the receipt, through 
Sergeant von Hake, of one copy of the. weather map of the 
War Department. 

By arrangement with the Library Committee, this map 
has been hung in the Reading Room of the Galveston Mer¬ 
cantile Library, and the room has been thrown open to the 
masters of ships in active service, as will be seen by the fol¬ 
lowing resolution of that Committee: 

“ Resolved , That the weather chart contributed by the 
Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., be hung in the Reading 
Room, and that free admission to the rooms of the Galveston 
Mercantile Library be extended to all masters of vessels in 
active service, and they are hereby invited to avail them¬ 
selves of the same.” 

At the last meeting of the Chamber reference was made 
in discussion to the benefits deriving to commerce and ag¬ 
riculture, from the labors of your Bureau, and the opinion 
was expressed that much loss would have been saved to our 



169 


community from the late storm, had there been stations 
north and west of us to advise us of its approach. 

Will you please inform me if it is contemplated to estab¬ 
lish such? 

The members of the Meteorological Committee of this 
Chamber are 

J. S. Thrasher, 

W. Richardson, 

C. G. Forshey. 

Respectfully yours, 

J. S. Thrasher, 

Chairman Met, Committee. 


VERMOlsrT. 


The Committee to nominate a Committee to act with the 
Signal Officer in Burlington, reported the following premable 
and resolution: 

Whereas , Under authority of Secretary of War, and in 
pursuance of an act of Congress, the Chief Signal Offier of 
the Army has established a system of meteorological stations 
for the purpose of the observation and report of storms for 
the benefit of commerce; and, 

Whereas , In the opinion of the Board, this service is of 
material importance to the commerce of the country; there¬ 
fore, 

Resolved , That Peter Collier, McK Petty and G. G. Bene¬ 
dict, be a permanant committee of this Board to confer with 
R. R. Martin, the Signal Officer stationed in this city, from 

%% 





170 


time to time, and to extend to him such assistance as may 
he in the power of this Board. 

On motion of Gen. George J. Stannard, the report was 
accepted and adopted. 

The President submitted the following communication 
from Robert R. Martin, Observer, Signal Service, U. S. A.: 

Burlington, Vt., May 22, 1871. 

Gentlemen : — In compliance with instructions from the 
Chief Signal Officer, Washington, D. C., I have the honor 
to inform you that I have been appointed observer at this 
station. I have secured an office in the City Hotel build¬ 
ing, on Main street, fronting the public square. If all my 
arrangements are completed in time, it is expected I will be 
able to make my reports regularly on and after the morning 
of the 24th inst. Any advice or assistance you may desire 
to offer will be thankfully received. 

Very respectfully your obedient servant, 

Robert R. Martin, 

Observer Signal Service, U. S. A. 


The report of the Committee on By-Laws was called up 
and adopted. 

Robert R. Martin, Observer of the Signal Service in this 
city, was elected an honorary member of the Board of 
Trade .—Free Press , Burlington , May 29, 1871. 


171 


vrR&iisri^. 


It is announced that the War Department will, during 
this week, issue daily from the Signal Office at Washington, 
a synopsis of the state of the weather throughout the coun¬ 
try, together with a forecast of the probable changes during 
the ensuing twenty-four hours. This intelligence will be 
communicated to the press; and if it be possible for us to lay 
it before our readers every morning, in time to make it 
available, we shall publish it regularly in the Journal. 

The advantages of the Signal Service to the mercantile 
marine of the country render it one of the most valuable at¬ 
tainments of the age, in the practical application of science 
to every-day business life. It enables us to form an accurate 
idea of the state of the weather thousands of miles off; and 
to calculate from the directions of the winds, quite correctly 
as to the changes about to take place .—Norfolk Journal , 
February 15, 1871. 


The Clerk of the Weather. 

We have him at last. Not a figment of the mind, a 
pleasantry of the imagination, but an actual living, breathing, 
intelligent, highly cultivated, good man—so good that he 
does not know the good he is doing, nor does any human 
being know, for nobody can tell what the ultimate effect of 
his researches will be. A very curious man he is, withal. 
He has more hands than Brieareus, more eyes than Argus, he 
never sleeps, and his nerves are of iron. Well they may be, 
for there is no whim, caprice, ill-humor, passion or rage of 




172 


his mistress, the weather, which he dare fail to watch in its 
every detail, with the devotion of a lover and the attention 
of a man of science. He is the Boswell, of the clouds, the 
Jenkins of the dew, the man Friday of the thunder, the 
most obedient, humble servant and lackey of the lightning. 

His name is General Myer. He is chief of the United 
States Signal Bureau, and his office is in Washington City. 
His eyes are the eyes of his assistants, scattered from the 
lakes to the Bio Grande, and from Maine to California; his 
hands are the thermometer, barometer, anemometer, hygrom¬ 
eter—instruments which his assistants use; and his nerves 
are the telegraphic wires which put him in immediate com¬ 
munication with these instruments, wherever they may be. 
Thus he is a compound man, whose constituent parts are 
distributed over thousands of miles of territory, each part 
performing its allotted duty in registering the freaks of his 
mistress, the weather, but all concentrating their energies in 
one direction, and transmitting their records to Washington, 
and leaving them to be classified, arranged, and made intel¬ 
ligible in the sensorum commune , the brain of General Myer. 
A busy man he must be; a useful man he unquestionably is. 

Although he has been paying attention to his capricious 
mistress for a number of years, it is only of late that his suit 
has been so rewarded as to to justify him in telling the pub¬ 
lic what progress he has made. At first there were many 
who feared that he was a little premature in his announce¬ 
ment, but the daily bulletin which he is kind enough to fur¬ 
nish us shows that he knows what he is about, and can tell 
with wonderful accuracy what the fickle jade’s temper will 
be for twenty-four or thirty-six hours to come. Many a lover 
and every husband would be glad enough to forecast the 
domestic horizon half as well as General Myer. 

By and by, when the General, who is now engaged, is 
fairly married to the weather, we may expect better things. 
Who knows that he will not be able to tell what the state of 
the weather will be for a week ahead ? The general accuracy 
of his predictions would seem almost to justify such an ex- 


173 


pectation, and, if his assiduous attentions to his stormy spouse 
do not shorten his days, we may at least look for warnings 
of forty-eight instead of twenty-four hours. He is a strange 
man, and likes his mistress best when she is most objection¬ 
able to other people—moody, fretful, and even tempestuous. 
When she is calm and sweet, he takes no interest in her, 
but busies himself in tabulating her ill-humors for days, 
weeks and months past. Accordingly, we may hope to see 
him attain a good old age. 

Meteorology has long been the opprobrium of science. 

So hopeless, indeed, seemed the task of reducing to order 
the phenomena of the atmosphere, that Comte, only thirty 
years ago, in constructing his fanciful hierarchy of the 
sciences, likened meteorology to sociology—the highest 
and least developed of the sciences—in this, that the atmos¬ 
pheric particles, subjected to incessant changes, were com¬ 
parable only to individual men endowed with volition and 
subject to myriads of influences alike from inanimate and an¬ 
imate nature. Vast and intricate as the problem was, Comte 
recognized the reign of law in meteorology as in all things 
else in nature, competent observers having already traced 
not only the ordinary currents of the air, as in the trade 
winds, but also the variable paths of the most furious storms. 
Espy’s theory, then or soon afterwards given to the world, 
has been, in the main, confirmed by subsequent investi¬ 
gators ; and, although the origin of the cyclone is yet a 
matter of dispute, as Prof. T. B. Maury shows in the March 
number of Scribner’s Magazine, yet the data accumulated 
during the last quarter of a century, furnish material for 
generalization much wider than were possible in Comte’s 
day. | 

Meteorology, waiting for the telegraph, as astronomy 
waited for the telescope and spectroscope, and biology for 
the microscope and the aplanactic searcher, is now about to 
assume the position of an exact science. The wide expanse 
of the United States, interrupted by few mountain chains, 
constitutes a field of observation equal almost to the ocean 


174 


itself for the study of meterological phenomena, and is even 
better than the ocean, in that it furnishes signal stations so 
numerous and so connected that the circuit of electric com¬ 
munication may he said to embrace almost an entire conti¬ 
nent. Here, then, for the first time in the history of me¬ 
teorology, the conditions precedent to the formation of a 
science are fulfilled, and we shall he disappointed if General 
Myer and his corps of assistants do not, within the coming 
twelve or eighteen months, chronicle triumphs in his special 
Department as incontestable and honorable to American 
science as were the achievements of American astronomers 
in establishing the nature of the sun’s corona at the time of 
the eclipse in 1869. 

The importance of meteorology to commerce and agricul¬ 
ture cannot be overestimated. As production and transpor¬ 
tation are the bases of nine-tenths of the practical business 
of the world, this point need not be dwelt upon. The point 
of interest to the student, however, is the possible effect of 
the reaction of a science, into which new life has been in¬ 
fused, upon other sciences, and with this view the labors of 
the clerk of the weather at Washington will be watched with 
absorbing attention by cultivated men in every part of the 
globe .—Richmond Enquirer , March 28, 1871. 


I 


A Glympse of the Cyclone. 

The great Southern cyclone, the appearance of which on 
our coast was predicted with such great accuracy by “ Old 
Probability,” as General Myers is facetiously called, was des¬ 
cribed by us, in part yesterday, but the picture was incom¬ 
plete. In the West Indies it burst with tropical fury, and 
there, where the two adverse forces met which give the ro¬ 
tary motion from which the storm takes its name, the des¬ 
truction was appalling, especially in life. Its force happily 
abated as it reached our more temperate latitude, but we 



175 


cannot review its ravages to the south of us without a feeling 
of unaffected pain. In Florida for example, where the 
cyclone first struck the Atlantic coast its fury was felt with 
unexampled violence. The cane was twisted off and carried 
before the wind like down; great trees were uprooted as if 
by the hand of a giant and their houghs stripped off, never 
to reappear like those fabled by the poet, were blown about 
with the most destructive violence; the cotton has been 
damaged beyond computation; fences have disappeared, as 
if consumed by an invading army; and, in short, the track 
of the storm can only be contemplated with the most pro¬ 
found sorrow. We have already given some account of its 
ravages, but that only gives a very limited idea of the gene¬ 
ral devastation. Such details convey to us no more idea of 
the general results than the examination of a contested 
orchard after a great battle would convey of the carnage of 
the fight along a line of battle measured by many miles. 
But, they are enough to sadden us, and to awaken in all 
thinking men a still greater appreciation of that branch of 
the public service which predicts for the seaman and the 
farmer alike the coming of the gentle rains, or the desolating 
tempest. This has already proved of incalculable value to 
our coasting trade, and under the administration of General 
Myer, who has shown rare capacity for his work, we hope to 
see the systefti expanded so that the whole country will be 
divided into agricultural districts, each with its depot, from 
which news may be scattered through the surrounding 
country. One season would repay the expense of this costly 
improvement in the present system, and we trust that Con¬ 
gress will not be slow to make such necessary appropriations 
as General Myer may consider essential to aid him in the 
great work in which he is engaged .—Norfolk Virginian , Sep¬ 
tember 9, 1871. 


176 


WISCONSIN. 


Chamber of Commerce, 

Milwaukee , February 1, 1871. 

At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the City 
of Milwaukee, held this day, the following action was taken 
at the recommendation of the Committee on Weather Re¬ 
ports : 

“Resolved , That this Chamber of Commerce strongly en¬ 
dorses the following preamble and resolutions recently adop¬ 
ted at a special meeting of the Board of Trade of the City 
of Detroit, viz.: 

“ Whereas , This Board is deeply impressed with the im¬ 
portance, and value to commerce, of the system of signals 
recently inaugurated through the beneficence of our Gov¬ 
ernment, as well as of the desirability of perfecting the 
system, so far as changes can he made directly calculated to 
subserve the great and rapidly developing interests sought 
to be promoted; and 

“ Whereas , No stations have been located in the lake region, 
between Milwaukee and Detroit, a circuit of 600 miles in 
extent, embracing the main track of the commerce of the 
lakes, the navigation of which is attended with more than 
ordinary peril; therefore, 

“Resolved , That Congress is hereby respectfully requested 
to appropriate a sufficient sum to secure the establishment 
of signal stations at Escanaba and Huron City.” 

“And be it further Resolved , That this Chamber of Com¬ 
merce respectfully requests Congress to make the appropria¬ 
tion sufficient to enable the Secretary of War to also estab- 



177 


lish signal stations at Marquette, Lake Superior and Grand 
Haven, on Lake Michigan. There is at the present time, but 
one signal station located upon Lake Superior, at Duluth, at 
the head of the Lake. Telegraphic communication is had 
with this point, at present, only by the way of St. Paul, and 
is liable to frequent interruption by storms, and in such cases 
there is no means of getting notice of the progress of storms 
sweeping over this great inland sea. Marquette is connected 
with the general telegraphic system of the country by a line 
extending across the Peninsula to Escanaba, and thence to 
Green Bay, and possesses an extensive lake commerce in the 
shipment of iron and iron ore. We regard it as a point of not 
less importance as a signal station than Duluth, besides hav¬ 
ing a very much larger commerce than the latter. 

“ There is as yet no signal station upon the east shore of 
Lake Michigan, with its numerous harbors and its extensive 
lumber trade; and in case it should not he deemed necessary 
at present to establish more than one station upon that shore, 
this Chamber would decidedly recommend Grand Haven as 
the most appropriate location, this being the terminus of 
several steamboat lines connecting with the railroads running 
east, south and north, and having the best harbor on that 
side of the Lake. 

“ Resolved , That the Secretary be instructed to forward 
copies of this action to our Representative in Congress, the 
Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, and the Secre¬ 
tary of War.” 

Angus Smith, 

President. 

Attest: Wm. J. Langson, 

Secretary. 


23 


178 


Chamber of Commerce, 

Milwaukee , May 22, 1871. 

Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 

Sir : By direction of the Meteorological Committee of. 
this Chamber, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
of your letter of the 20tli inst., and to express their satisfac¬ 
tion at the promised renewal of the weather reports for the 
benefit of Commerce. 

The Committee, further direct me to say, that you shall 
be promptly advised of any delay, or irregularity in the pub¬ 
lication of reports at this city. 

They also desire to bear testimony to the general accuracy, 
(so far as this locality is concerned,) of the daily synopsis of 
reports issued from your Department, and the value of these 
reports, to both the commercial and agricultural interests, in 
indicating so correctly the probable changes of the weather. 
The Committee beg leave to express the hope, that these re¬ 
ports for the press, will be continued. 

Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

Wm. J. Langson, 

Secretary. 





I 


\ 


% 






APPENDIX. 


Board of Trade of the City of Toledo, 
Secretary’s Office, 

Toledo , January 24, 1871. 


Hoii. E. D. Peck, 

Washington, D. C. 


Dear Sir: The Toledo Board of Trade, adopted the fol¬ 
lowing by a unanimous vote: 

Resolved , That our Representative in Congress, be re¬ 
quested to use his influence to secure the establishment of 
Storm Signal Stations at Escanaha, Muskegon, and Huron 
City. 

These points are very much exposed to storms, and under 
the present arrangements, there are about 600 miles of lake 
coast, between Detroit and Milwaukee without a Signal Sta¬ 
tion. Our Lake Marine requires the establishment of sta¬ 
tions at the points named. 

Respectfully, 

Ciias. T. Wales, 

Secretary. 


Board of Trade Rooms, 
Cleveland Ohio , February 8, 1871. 

R. W. Gillett, 

President of Detroit Board of Trade. 

Sir : The following preamble and resolution were unan¬ 
imously adopted by the “Cleveland Board of Trade” at its 
session of Junuary 17, 1871. 




Whereas, This Board is deeply impressed with the impor¬ 
tance and value to commerce of the system of signals re¬ 
cently inaugurated through the beneficence of our Govern¬ 
ment, as well as of the desirability of perfecting the system, 
as far as changes can be made directly calculated to subserve 
the great and. rapidly developing interests sought to be pro¬ 
moted; and 

Whereas , Ho stations have been located in the lake region 
between Milwaukee and Detroit, a circuit of six hundred 
miles in extent, embracing the main track of the commerce 
of the lake, the navigation of which is attended with more 
than ordinary peril, therefore, 

Resolved , That Congress, is hereby respectfully requested 
to appropriate a sufficient sum to secure the establishment 
of Signal Stations at Escanaba, Marquette, and Huron City. 

Attest, J. C. Sage, 

Secretary Cleveland Board of Trade. 


Detroit, February VWi, 1871. 
Chief Signal Officer of the Army, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : Enclosed find certificate copy of the Cleveland 
and Detroit Boards of Trade, asking that a Signal Station 
be established at Escanaba and Huron City, and Cleveland 
has asked in addition for one at Marquette, which is much 
wanted also. A glance at the map will show how far these 
stations would be from each other; also that they are directly 
on the track of the largest amount of the lake commerce. 
Would say that it is not important to keep those stations in 
operation during the winter. 

Senator Chandler, I think, will give you assistance in this 
matter if shown this, as he knows the situation of these points, 
and the extent of the lake commerce. 

Hoping we may get the stations, 

T am, respectfully, 

G. W. Bissell. 


183 


STATE OF MAINE. 


RESOLVES IN FAVOR OF A SYSTEM OF STORM WARNINGS IN TIIE 
STATE OF MAINE. 

****** 
Whereas , By an Act of Congress, passed at the last ses¬ 
sion, the Secretary of War was authorized to establish a sys¬ 
tem of storm warnings, and believing that such a plan, if 
properly carried out, would be of much practical advantage 
to the industries of the country; therefore, 

Resolved , That Congress be requested, through the Secre¬ 
tary of War, to test a system of storm warnings by means of 
the telegraph and signals in this State, for the benefit of 
agriculture and commerce, and protection against floods. 

Resolved , That a copy of these resolves be sent to the Sec¬ 
retary of War, and also to each of our Senators and Repre¬ 
sentatives in Congress, requesting them to use their influence 
in furtherance of the above design, and the testing of the 
plan in our State. 

In the House of Representatives, February 23d, 1871. 

Read and passed finally. 

Edwin B. Smith, 

Speaker. 

In Senate, February 24, 1871. 

Read and passed finally. 

Charles Buffum, 

President. 

* * * * * * 


Approved. 


* * 


February 24tli, 1871. 
Sidney Perham, 

Governor. 

* * * * 



State of Maine, 

Office of the Secretary. 

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy 
of the original, as deposited in this office. 

Franklin M. Drew, 

Secretary of State, 


184 


Charleston Chamber of Commerce, 

Charleston, S. C., March 20, 1871. 

To Capt. II. W. Howgate, 

Acting Assistant Signal Officer, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : I have received, by the hands of Sergeant J. 
E. Evans, a copy of your circular and a printed report re¬ 
lating to the “ observations and report of storms by tele¬ 
graph and signals.” 

Permit me, in behalf of the Chamber, to thank you for 
this document, and further, to say that Sergeant Evans has, 
for some time past, daily furnished our bulletin boards with 
reports of the weather from principal points in the Union, 
which are read by our merchants with much interest. 

This interest seems to be increasing as the advantages to 
commerce arising from this system of observation and record 
becomes more apparent. It gives me pleasure to say that 
Sergeant Evans is active and intelligent in the discharge of 
his arduous duties, and, with great courtesy, explains much 
of the phenomena of this new branch of science. 

With much respect, your obedient servant, 

S. Y. Tupper, 

Acting President of Chamber of Commerce. 


Savannah Chamber of Commerce, 
March 31, 1871. 

Sir : I am in receipt of your obliging letter of the 28th 
March, covering copy of your preceding one of 13th Decem¬ 
ber, received during my absence in Europe. 

At the quarterly meeting of our Chamber next month, a 
Special Committee will be appointed to take charge of all 
matters relating to meteorological observations at this port, 
meanwhile it will afford me pleasure to receive suggestions 



185 


of any direction in which this Chamber can be of service to 
you. 

I take this opportunity of representing how important it 
is to our rapidly extending commerce to receive your reports 
from at least all the shore stations, and if these included San 
Francisco the interest would be enhanced, enabling us to 
compare the atmospheric changes of the Atlantic and Pacific 
coasts. 

Our lines of stamers establishing daily communications 
with the northern ports and the commercial marine, essen¬ 
tial to the export of products, reaching this year sixty millions 
of dollars in value, demand all the intelligence of science for 
their protection. 

May I be allowed to state, that the room at present occu¬ 
pied by your attentive expert at this point (Sergt. Held) is 
illy situated. It has an adverse exposure and is generally 
unsuited to the nice operations of his department. 

I may not close without mentioning the wide interest 
your published meteorological reports have for our commu¬ 
nity and the singular accuracy, with which their predictions 
have been verified here. 

I remain sir, with great respect, 

Charles Green, 

President. 

To Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A. 


Norfolk, Ya., April 13 th , 1871, 

Capt. II. W. Howgate, 

Acting Signal Officer, &c. 

Dear Sir: About two weeks since the undersigned were 
appointed a Committee on the part of the Norfolk Board of 
Trade to communicate with you, and to tender our cordial 
cooperation in furthering the objects designed to be attained 

§4 



186 


by the establishment of the meteorological service. It is 
probably well known to you that Hampton Rhodes is the 
safest and most accessible harbor for all vessels passing near 
the Capes of Virginia, bound north or south, and it is not 
unfrequently the case that a hundred or more sail find refuge 
and may be seen anchored here. No part of the southern 
seacoast is more dangerous to commerce than that stretching 
from the Capes of Virginia to Hatteras Inlet, and information 
regarding disasters occurring along that part of the coast 
can be, and is more readily communicated to Norfolk than 
to any other point. 

With the perils of the Hatteras coast you are doubtless 
familiar. About thirty miles north of Hatteras is Body Is¬ 
land, along whose shore more vessels have been stranded 
than at any other point of the South Atlantic seaboard. If 
a telegraph line could be established from Norfolk to Cape 
Henry, and thence along the coast to Body Island and Cape 
Hatteras, with signal stations at these three points, namely: 
Cape Henry, Body Island and Hatteras, it would furnish the 
means of conveying information which would prove of incal¬ 
culable advantage to American commerce. All vessels then 
sailing out of the Chesapeake Bay could be readily warned 
of any probable danger, and those having sought refuge in 
Hampton Rhodes could be informed as to the time they 
might move out in safety. We presume it unnecessary to 
amplify these suggestions, as their importance and feasibility 
will readily commend themselves to you. 

We take pleasure in bearing our testimony to the activity 
and faithfulness of Sergeant Smith, who has spared no pains 
to render successful the purposes you have in view. To this 
end also we will be at all times ready to cooperate with you. 

We are, very resfectfully, and truly yours, 

C. Billups, 

W. A. Graves, 

E. C. Lindsey, 

Committee on part of Norfolk Board Trade, 


187 


Chamber of Commerce, 
Charleston, S. C., May 31, 1871. 

Gen. Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A., 

Washington, D. C. 

Sir : The Committee of this Chamber on “ Meteorological 
Observations ” are obliged for your letter of 20th instant, 
and have only to repeat their assurance that any assistance, 
in their power to render, either to the agent of the United 
States here or to your Department, shall be cheerfully given. 

They are pleased to notice that proper arrangements are 
now made with the various telegraph companies for the 
transmission of reports; and the daily tabulated report is 
now regularly filed in the rooms of this Chamber. 

A very great interest is taken in these reports by this 
community, not only in consequence of their daily practical 
usefulness, but there is also a hope that the wide field which 
you have opened to these observations will afford, perhaps, 
in the course of time, even greater practical results than at 
present. 

I am, sir, for the Committee, with much respect, your 
obedient servant, 

E. Harry Frost, 

Chairman. 


Chambersburg, Pa., June 7, 1871. 

lion. Simon Cameron, 

Dear Sir : I wrote you, at the instance of the Franklin 
County Horticultural Society, (whose President, Dr. J. L. 
Suesserot, has always been your firm friend,) to say that this 
Society is very anxious to have Chambersburg made a Signal 
Station, attached to the Weather Signal Service, to furnish 
daily reports to the Chief Signal Officer connected with the 
War Department at Washington. 



188 


There appears to be no such station east of the Allegha- 
ney Mountains, and no observations are made or recorded 
in the valley extending from Philadelphia to Tennessee, and 
the peculiar geographical features of the country here, viz.: 
high mountain spurs with summit level, crossing the valley 
near Chambersburg, would make it a very suitable point for 
such station. The agricultural interests of this valley would, 
we think, be greatly benefited with a station such as I speak 
of, in this central valley town. Hoping you will find it con¬ 
venient and agreeable to use your influence to secure the 
desired Signal Station at this place, I subscribe myself, 

Your obedient servant, 

F. S. Stambaugh. 


Champaign, III., July 21st , 1871. 

Albert J. Myer, 

Brigadier General, &c., 

Washington, D. C. 

Sir : I have received, sent to me as Secretary of the Illi¬ 
nois State Horticultural Society, (a position now filled by 
O. B. Galusha, of Morris, to whom I hope you will address 
a second circular,) your circular in relation to storm signals. 
I take the liberty of replying to it as Secretary of the Illinois 
Industrial University, an institution founded on the national 
grant of lands for the benefit of agricultural and mechanical 
education. 

The attention of our agricultural communities, as you are 
aware, has for some years been drawn to the subject of storm 
signals for times of harvest and haying. It seems quite 
clear that, although the original intention of Congress was 
only the protection of shipping, the aggregate damage to 
the agricultural interests from summer storms, at least, is 
far greater than to commerce. We shall feel very grateful 



189 


to yon, therefore, for endeavoring to do what Congress 
seems to have overlooked, and aiming to give the great 
producing classes the benefits of your valuable work. 

I think there is no doubt but that storm signals may be 
made useful to the farmer: 

1. In the time of spring planting, when twelve or twenty- 
four hours’ notice of a coming storm might enable him to 
get his crop planted before rain. 

2. In the season of harvesting the small grains and cutting 
meadows, when immense aggregate losses might be pre¬ 
vented by a few hours’ general notice. 

3. Winter storms are often a cause of great loss, when 
severe, from the destruction of live stock, and exposure of 
products that might easily be housed and protected by a 
few hours’ notice. 

4. The same is true ot the early frosts of autumn, often 
very destructive to ripened fruits and vegetables, and of the 
late frosts of spring that destroy buds and bloom. The 
effects of these could be much mitigated with a little fore¬ 
knowledge. 

These suggest some, though not all the practical points 
to be arrived at. I speak only of the cases where immedi¬ 
ate fore-knowledge of the approach of storms is the vital 
point. As to other points of equal importance, but not so 
pertinent to the present purpose, permit me to call your at¬ 
tention to the enclosed fragment of an address by Professor 
Turner, which we are about publishing at length with a 
diagram in our annual report. 

A difficulty arises in the case of agricultural communities 
as to the means of rapidly communicating the information 
of the approach of storms. Our daily papers do not reach 
farmers enough, nor promptly enough. The firing of cannon 
at fixed points has been suggested, but I think as your Office 
increases in the extent and accuracy of its information and 
prognostications, the information it furnishes will be sought 
more eagerly and travel very rapidly, even by word of 
mouth, from railway stations into the back country. 


190 


Premising this much, and that I have just been reading in 
this connection the article of Professor Maury on the “ Tele¬ 
graph and the Storm ” in the August number of Harper’s 
Magazine, in which the workings of your Bureau are ex¬ 
plained, I would respectfully suggest a few ideas growing 
out of the position and wants of this institution, and the lack 
of a representative station in the great agricultural region of 
Illinois. The University is situated on the grand prairie of 
Illinois, some 125 miles south of Chicago, on the Illinois Cen¬ 
tral railway, and convenient to telegraphic stations. 

Indianapolis, I presume, is the nearest Signal Station. 
The location and the character of the institution both sug¬ 
gest that a meteorological station could, with special propriety, 
be established here. It is right among the practical farmers 
of the west. It is a State institution, flourishing and prom¬ 
ising, as you will see by circulars sent herewith, and is speci¬ 
ally devoted to the development and elaboration of practical 
knowledge. This being the case, I would ask whether a 
station cannot be established here? We have intelligent 
and industrious young men, who could be enlisted for ser¬ 
vice, if desired, and who would gladly do the work for the 
means to further prosecute their studies. I think I may 
safely pledge the aid and cooperation of the University in 
furnishing suitable rooms and other facilities, such as may 
be required for the efficient working of the station. I may 
add, we have under consideration, and hope yet to be able 
to establish, an agricultural experimental station in connec¬ 
tion with the University, which will suggest a great many 
practical meteorological investigations, and make it doubly 
desirable to have a station at this point. 

Respectfully yours, 

W. C. Flagg, 

Corresponding Secretary. 


191 


Champaign. III., May 22 d, 1871. 

Gen. A. J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : I heartily concur in the views of our Corres¬ 
ponding Secretary, lion. W. C. Flagg, in the communica¬ 
tion which this accompanies. The University will lend its 
cooperation heartily to the work, if you shall select this as 
one of your stations. The prominence which recent legisla¬ 
tive action has given the University before the State will 
make the selection of this point peculiarly agreeable to our 
leading public men of the State, and to the great agricul¬ 
tural classes. We have several students who are peculiarly 
fitted for the performance of the duties required. 

With great respect, I am truly yours, &c., 

J. M. Gregory, 

Regent of University. 


Extract from the Proceedings of the Second Annual Session of 
the State Medical Association of Arkansas—Held at Little 
Pock , November 5th and 6th , 1871. 

****** * 

“ That the operations of the Signal Corps he so extended 
as to embrace every portion of the Union; that a station be 
located at the capital “of every State and Territory, and at 
other advisable places, from which shall be sent daily re¬ 
ports by telegraph to the Federal Capital, of the tempera¬ 
ture, weather, currents of wind, ozonic state of the atmos¬ 
phere, and everything of scientific interest to the physician 
and physicist. This is an object worthy the attention and 
undertaking of a great Government.” 

****** 5|C 

“ Scientific associations everywhere throughout the Union 
should urge Congress, by resolutions, to enact a law making 



192 


adequate appropriations to establish stations necessary to 
complete meteorological observations. Every State and 
Territory in the Union, by legislative action, through their 
respective Representatives in Congress, should endorse the 
movement. We should have established Signal Stations 
at the Capital of each State, and elsewhere in each State 
and Territory where the physical features of the country, 
manifest the importance of daily signal service, to make 
satisfactory weather and meteorological reports. 

Government alone should be intrusted with the service, 
and proudly should the Government respond for the duty in 
performing the office. Officials, wherever Signal Service 
extends, should report the state of the weather, direction and 
force of the wind, mean temperature, fah., (6 A. M., 12 M. 
and 6 P. M.) of the atmosphere. Also, barometric, hygrome- 
tric and ozonic conditions of the air. The weather gauge at 
each station should give full particulars—daily record and 
report the fall of rain, snow, hail, freezing, dew point, etc. 
If epidemic, endemic, or any diseases are rife in any part of 
the domain, such diseases should be carefully noted for 
record. Research thus made in the interest of science, arts 
and medical literature should be carefully tabulated and 
regularly reported by the respective departments of the 
Government. The elevations, mountain ranges, valleys, 
basins, plains, water courses, all physically determine the 
most important locations to be selected for Signal Service 
Stations. The islands margining the Atlantic coasts, Ber¬ 
muda, Jamaica, Hayti, Bahamas, Cuba, and Key West, 
Florida, stand prominent, and hold such relations to the 
continent that weather sentinels on the east and southeast 
should be erected, and all friendly powers should cooperate 
for maratime protection. In the Pacific Ocean, the Sand¬ 
wich Islands, Westerly and the Galipagos Islands, on the 
southwest of our territory, would give navigators warning 
when approaching the Pacific coast. 

Every phenomenon occurring at any station should 
promptly be reported for scientific usefulness. To suggest 


193 


locations for the greatest advantages in Signal Service and 
weather reports for the Government, we would add that all 
the territory embraced from the west coast of the Atlantic 
Ocean to the Appalachian chain of mountains, from the 
Appalachian mountains over the Mississippi basin to the 
Ozark group of mountains, from the Ozark Mountains to 
the Rocky Mountians, from the Rocky Mountains over the 
great basin of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and from 
the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Pacific coast range 
of mountains, with all the important elevations, divides, 
slopes, basins, prairies, valleys and water courses, to 
littoral regions, require Signal Stations, for meteorolo¬ 
gical observations for the advantages of climatology.” 


Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College, 

December 14, 1871. 

Sir : The undersigned, professors in the Sheffield Scienti¬ 
fic School of Yale College, beg leave to ask your attention 
to the desirability of establishing in New Haven a Signal 
Station for meteorological observations. The advantage to 
commerce and to business interests will he suggested to you 
by the civic authorities and Government officials of the place. 

We content ourselves with expressing the belief that by 
such an establishment the progress of meteorological science 
will be especially promoted through both direct and indirect 
influences. 

Connected with the academic department of Yale College, 
and with the Sheffield Scientific School, are several pro¬ 
fessors who take a particular interest in this class of investi¬ 
gation, and there are here large numbers of young men who 
are training themselves for public and private service in 
scientific pursuits, and who will be better fitted for use¬ 
fulness throughout the land, by a knowledge of the work 
of the Signal Bureau. 

25 



194 


It also deserves to be especially noted that Hew Haven is 
one of the very few places on the continent where the mete¬ 
orological records extend over a period of more than ninety 
years. These records have been carefully edited and pub¬ 
lished in the transactions of the Connecticut Academy, and 
afford an important basis for the comparison of new data. 

Under these circumstances the undersigned feel justified 
in asking that the system of observing meteorological phe¬ 
nomena, which reflects so much honor upon the present 
administration of the War Department, and upon the offi¬ 
cers of the service, may be extended to this centre of scien¬ 
tific researches. 

We are, dear sir, yours with high respect, 

W. P. Trowbridge, • 

C. S. Lyman, 

L. W. Johnson, 

Daniel C. Gilman, 
Daniel E. Eaton, 

T. R. Lounsbury, 

A. E. Verrill, 

Geo. J. Brush. 

To the Honorable the Secretary op War, 

Washington, D. C. 


Custom House, 

New Haven , December 15 th, 1871. 

Sir : The undersigned respectfully ask that a Signal Station 
may be established at Hew Haven. 

In addition to the interests of science, which would he 
promoted by such a station at Hew Haven, more than at 
almost any other place, the importance of such a station here 
to the interests of commerce seems worthy of especial con¬ 
sideration. According to the last annual report of the 
Bureau of Statistics, in our possession, Hew Haven ranks, in 



195 


the value of her annual imports, seventh among the Atlantic 
ports, and seventeenth in the whole country. 

New London, in this State, where a station has been estab¬ 
lished, is twelfth among the Atlantic ports, and thirty-sixth 
in the whole country. In the value of exports, New Haven 
is twenty-eighth in the country, and New London fifty-first. 

The imports of New Haven during the last fiscal year 
were nearly one million of dollars. Eighty-one vessels, with 
a tonnage of 15,239 tons, entered New Haven from foreign 
countries, while only thirteen vessels, with a tonnage of 
3,278 tons, entered New London. 

From New Haven, sixty-four vessels, with a tonnage of 
11,229 tons, cleared for foreign countries, while from New 
London, twenty-one vessels, with a tonnage of 2,359 tons, 
cleared. 

The coasting trade of New Haven bears a similar ratio to 
that of New London. A very large number of vessels find 
a safe harbor here in times of danger. No place on the coast 
of this State would, by means of its Signal Station, render 
service to so large an amount of shipping. 

While, therefore, we concur heartily in the petition of the 
Professors of the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College, 
for the reasons therein stated, we earnestly petition you to 
establish a Signal Station here in the interests of commerce 
as well as of science. 

Cyrus Northrop, Collector of Customs , 

Wm. H. Bussell, Collector Internal Revenue , 
N. D. Sherry, Postmaster . 
lion. William B. Belknap, 

Secretary of War, 

Washington, D. C. 


196 


Mayor’s Office, 

City of New Haven , Dec. 18, 1871. 

To General Albert J. Myer, 

Chief Signal Officer of Signal Service, 

War Department. 

The Mayor and Court of Common Council of the City of 
New Haven, State of Connecticut, would most respectfully 
represent to the War Department that, in their opinion, a 
necessity exists for locating a Signal Station at the Port of 
Hew Haven, far greater than that of any port on the Con¬ 
necticut coast. 

It is one of our largest ports, and is increasing in impor¬ 
tance from year to year; and of all the ports on the Atlantic 
coast, in value of imports it ranks seventh, while Hew London 
ranks twelfth; and of all the ports in the country Hew Haven 
ranks seventeenth, Hew London, thirty-sixth. 

In value of exports, Hew Haven ranks twenty-eighth, and 
Hew London fifty-first. 

In addition to Hew Haven as a port of entry, your peti¬ 
tioners would respectfully represent that a great majority of 
all the vessels, foreign or coast-wise, passing through Long 
Island Sound, pass by and near to the Port of Hew Haven, 
and that it is more used as a shelter (being a safer harbor, in 
case of violent storms,) than any other port on the Sound. 

In view of these facts, and very many others that might be 
adduced, your petitioners would most respectfully request, 
and strongly urge, that a Signal Station be located at the Port 
of Hew Haven, and as in duty bound they will ever pray. 

Very respectfully, 

Henry G. Lewis, 

Mayor. 

Signed by the following Aldermen of Hew Haven: 
Charles S. Scott, Thos. M. Gwin, 

Cornelius Pierpont, Stiles Stevens, 

Lucius A. Thomas, Stephen R. Smith, 


197 


Wm. W. Morse, 

Elias Pierpont, 

John Egan, 

T. H. Fulton, 

Also signed by the following 
Councilmen: 

E. G. Stoddard, 

Thomas D. Jones, 

Henry D. Barnes, 

Daniel Carroll, 

S. F. Benton, 

James Kinsella, 

Thomas McWeeny, 

John L. Dishrow, 

Jacob Mailhause, 

Johnson T. Platt, 

Julius Troiss, 

Patrick Holland, 

W. H. Brown, 

D. S. Cooper, 


H. H. Bunnell, 

Francis Donnelly, 

E. P. Goodsell, Jr., 

Wm. H. Bradley. 

members of the Board of 

John C. Bitter, 

Geo. Wm. Beed, 

Geo. Blakeman, 

Wm. J. Atwater, 

Wm. T. Scranton, 

Jno. B. Adriance, 
Jonathan Ingersoll, 
Horace P. Dibble, 

Albert Thomas, 

Martin Bergin, 

John J. McMahon, 

John Butf, 

Frank Altmann, 

Carlos Smith. 


State of Connecticut , 1 ^ 

New Haven County, j 

City of Hew Haven, 

City Clerk's Office , Dec. 18, 1871. 

I hereby certify that the above signatures to the petition 
for locating a Signal Station at the Port of Hew Haven are 
the signatures of each and every member of the Court of 
Common Council of said city. 

,— A —-n In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand 

f city \ and affix, the seal of said city. 

I SEAL i Timothy J. Fox, 

City Clerk. 


198 


Endorsed as follows: 

I earnestly urge the granting of the within application. 
The commerce of Hew Haven is rapidly increasing, nearly 
doubling the past year, owing to various causes, among them 
the improvement of the harbor now being made. 

S. W. Kellogg, 

M. C., 2d District, Conn. 


Booms California State Board of Agriculture, 

Sacramento , December 27, 1871. 

Garrick Mallery, 

Captain, &c., and Acting Signal Officer, &c., 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : We have lately been visited by two storms on 
this coast, the first of which was foretold with a degree of 
correctness as to time and severity from your Office that has 
astonished every one. The latter was also foretold with 
almost equal correctness at the San Francisco Station. These 
facts have called universal attention to the value and impor¬ 
tance of the service, and created a desire in this vicinity that 
a station may be established at Sacramento. 

In obedience to this desire the State Board of Agriculture, 
at a meeting held on the 26th instant, added Dr. T. M. Lo¬ 
gan, of this city, to the committee heretofore named. Dr. 
Logan is one of the best meteorologists in the State, and 
occupies the office of meteorologist to our Board of Agri¬ 
culture. It is hoped if the facilities at the command of the 
service do not now warrant such establishment here, that 
Congress will, at an early day, give it the necessary means. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

J. H. Hoag, 

Secretary Meteorological Committee 

of California State Agricultural Society. 



199 


Cairo, III., January 1 , 1872. 

Mr. Thomas L. Watson, 

U. S. Meteorological Observer, 

Cairo, Illinois. 

Dear Sir: We the undersigned, citizens of Cairo, and 
others interested in the commerce of the western rivers, be¬ 
lieving that the cautionary signals now authorized by the 
War Department Signal Service, will be of great benefit if 
given from this point, do most earnestly request, that you 
will communicate with the Department and secure this end, 
if possible. The building in which your office is located, 
and from which we would suggest the signals be displayed, 
can be seen for miles up and down the Mississippi river, and 
for a longer distance up the Ohio river. It seems to us that 
for the good of commerce these signals are particularly needed 
at this point, where all boats from Pittsburg, Cincinnati, St. 
Louis, and all northern ports, and vice versa, and at which, dur¬ 
ing a portion of the year, many of them receive their entire 
cargoes. The signals displayed at Cairo, being at the con¬ 
fluence of the two great rivers, would serve the double pur¬ 
pose of warning to Ohio and Mississippi river boats; and in 
this connection, we would also request that you secure to us, 
if possible, reports from Keokuk, Iowa, and Knoxville, Ten¬ 
nessee, as to the rise and fall of the rivers at these points, 
and also the condition of the rivers there, during times when 
navigation is impeded by ice or other causes. We deem 
this of great importance. Please forward this communica¬ 
tion to the Department, with such arguments as may suggest 
themselves to you in behalf of these objects, and you will 
greatly oblige the whole commercial interests of the Ohio 
and Mississippi river. 


Peter Catil, 
W. Ilyslop, 


M. C. Wright, 


A. B. Safford, 
P. S. Yocum, 


James W. Stewart, 


Sir. Cairo, City Whf. Bt., 
0. B. Hunter, Sir. J. Fishy, Jr., 
S. Beaty, Str. Shannon, 

Thos. J. Shands, Str. Julia, 


200 


W. H. Morris, 

H. H. Candee, 

Ben. M. Hagey, 

Chas. Pink, 

A. D. Graham, 

¥m. H. Green, 

G. W. Kleorlis, 

Mannay Mayfield, 

J. M. McKinney, 

Str. Illinois. 

J. B. Hudson, 

W. E. Green, 

John Antrim, 

C. K. Woodward, 

W. P. Halliday, 

F. S. Kent, 

Theo. Carrigan, 

A. C. Coleman, 

C. R. Hurd, 

H. L. Halliday, 

R. P. Robbins, 

D. Hartman, 

John Borpple, 

W. 0. Gall, 

W. J. Montague, 

G. D. Williamson, 

Chas. Leeds, 

A. Shinkle, 

J. S. Barclay, 

D. Hurd, 

Chas. R. Hurd, 

John H. Beecher, 

C. C. Davidson, 

W. H. Early, 

S. M. Orr, 

E. Bross, 

Carl L. Thomas, 


John Gwathway, 

Sir, H. M. Shreve , 
James Mellory, S. B. Agt ., 

E. E. Bowers, 

Str. K. Longworth, 
Levi Kates, “ “ 

P. L. Davidson, 

Supt. N. W. Str. Co. 
Jas. Keniston, Str. Tom Jasper 

H. B. Hatcher, “ 

J. M. Phillips, Whf. Proprietor 
J. T. West, Str. City of Quincy , 
Thos. Poe, Str. M. E. Poe , 

A. Kehrer, 

Chas. R. Kyle, 

Thos. W. Halliday, 

Geo. H. Rea, 

Pret. Miss. V. T. Co. 
James H. Brown, 

W. A. Storer, 

Louis Herbert, 

James Biggs, Steam Boat Agt., 
Geo. McDonald, 

P. W. Barclay, 

Thos. Wilson, 

E. E. Davis, 

William Kelson, 

James Morris, 

W. A. Redman, 

T. G. Wilson, 

S. B. Leedy. 

John B. Phillis, 

Sam’l. E. Wilson, 

Henry Stool, 

E. M. Word, 

J. E. Spiller, 

Samuel Wilson. 


201 


Custom House, Gloucester, January 8, 1872. 

Dear General : Enclosed please find a memorial for the 
establishment of a Signal Station at Gloucester. The names 
could be increased to thousands, but it was deemed sufficient 
to have the endorsement of the principal fishing owners, and 
those directly interested. Our people are much pleased at 
the prospect of the establishment of the station. * * * 

There are about seven thousand arrivals in Gloucester Har¬ 
bor during the season, a large proportion seeking shelter. 
Vessels bound south, coastwise, usually make Cape Ann, and, 
if the weather promises fair, keep on over the shoals: in 
case of a storm they put into Gloucester. Vessels bound 
out or into Boston, often seek shelter here. For our fisher¬ 
men the signals will be invaluable. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

E. J. B ARSON. 

To Hon. B. F. Butler, 

Washington, D. C. 


We, the undersigned citizens, vessel-owners and mariners 
of the town of Gloucester, deply appreciating the interest 
that has led to the establishment of Weather Signal Stations 
for the benefit of the marine service, would most respectfully 
represent that the harbor of Gloucester .is one of the most 
available for shelter on the New England coast, and that the 
establishment of a station at this port would be of immense 
value to all vessels entering Massachusetts Bay, as well as to 
our local commerce. 

In view of these facts, we would respectfully ask that a 
station be established at Gloucester , as at no point will the inte¬ 
rests of humanity and enterprise be better served. 

Signed by F. J. B arson, 

and one hundred and sixty-five others. 


26 


202 


Endorsed as follows :— 


Washington, January 13,1872. 

Respectfully referred to General Myer, with the private 
letter of Captain Babson, Collector of the Port of Gloucester, 
showing how important a Signal Station there would be. 

Benjamin F. Butler. 


Our highly successful, and certainly useful, Signal Ser¬ 
vice, has still further increased its sphere of beneficence to 
the commerce of the nation, by ad,ding to the weather re¬ 
ports the depth of water on the Mississippi river and the 
other navigable streams of the west, the channels of which 
are constantly shifting. To the pilots of all the steamboats 
on these uncertain streams the Signal Service Bureau now 
forwards the daily stages of water on the “ bars,” and in the 
channels both above and below them. This new arrange¬ 
ment cannot fail to prove of immense benefit, not only to 
the commercial interests of the western rivers, but aid ma¬ 
terially in rendering human life safer on the streams where 
it has hitherto been left to the blind mercy of chance and 
the mad freaks of criminal recklessness .—Philadelphia In¬ 
quirer, January IS, 1872. 


Now that the Lighthouse Board have commenced con¬ 
structing a lighthouse on Body Island, one of the most 
dangerous points on the Atlantic coast, and upon which, 
since the war, over ten millions’ worth of property has 
been lost, the subject of running a line of telegraph from 
Norfolk to that point, via Cape Henry and Cape Hatteras, is 
beginning to attract considerable attention from our ship¬ 
pers and underwriters. The immense benefit to com- 




203 


merce which has resulted from the timely warnings of the 
Storm Signal Bureau are recognized, hut it is claimed that 
upon these points, the most dangerous on the coast, t\e 
storm signals should also be displayed. A timely warning 
to vessels passing out at Cape Henry would, no doubt, he of 
great advantage to the shipping interest, while, in the event 
of a vessel going ashore, assistance could be sent from Nor¬ 
folk many hours in advance of the present method. 

It seems to us that a Storm Signal Station should also he 
established at Hampton Hoads. It is well known to be one 
of the finest harbors in the world; and during the prevalence 
of storms, or easterly weather, as high as one hundred and 
fifty vessels may he seen at anchor at one time. There is a 
station in Norfolk, fifteen miles distant, but to these vessels 
it is practically of no use.—-Baltimore American , January 13, 
1872. 


INDEX 



J’Afi V , 


Alabama,. 3 

California, - . 

Connecticut,.9 

District of Columbia,. 

Georgia,.17 

Illinois,.19 

Iowa,.-.37 

Indiana,.. - 40 

Kansas,.41 

Louisiana,.42 

Maine,.48 

Maryland,.52 

Massachusetts,. - 60 

Michigan,. 69 

Minnesota, - - - - -.72 

Missouri, . -72 

Nebraska,.- - - 81 

New Jersey, - .88 

New York,. - 86 

North Carolina,.137 

Ohio,.138 

Pennsylvania,.146 

Rhode Island,.153 

South Carolina,.154 

Tennessee, - 162 

Texas,. -165 

Vermont, -.169 

Virginia,.171 

Wisconsin,.176 


Arkansas, - 
California, 
Connecticut, 
3reolgia, - 
dlinpis, 

Maim, . 
Michig^ . 
Massachusetts, 
Ohio, - . 

Pennsylvan^ 
South Carolii^ 
Virginia, - 


jLieiPEnsroiix:. 

PAGE. 

.191 

.198 

. 193, 194, 196 

.184 

.188, 191, 199 

.183 




JU; 1 . 24 


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